Netball: Force won't fear Flame this time round

Force coach Yvonne Willering says her side have to be wary of but not fear Flames defender Vilimaina Davu in tomorrow's sudden death semifinal.

The winner of the match faces the Sting in Invercargill, the loser of last night's match against the Magic, to decide the other finalist.

The Force and the Flames last met in round two where the Force escaped with a narrow 34-32 win, despite leading 23-11 at halftime.

After starting strongly, the Force attack let Davu get the better of them in the second half, which nearly cost them the match.

"Obviously we have to show her respect but I think we have to make sure that we don't give her too much," Willering said.

"Last time we had trouble getting the ball in to the shooters and I think it really was because we gave them too much respect and really didn't focus on our own game plan."

The accuracy of Force shooters Catherine Latu and Megan Dehn will go a long way towards determining the team's fate.

The Force will also need a big performance from defenders Lorna Suafoa and Leana de Bruin, who were effective in shutting down Irene van Dyk last weekend.

The Flames tend to operate with Shelley Norris acting as a holding shooter which leaves goal attack Jade Topia to roam and shoot, meaning the Force will have to contain both shooters.

One of the key match-ups will be between centres Julie Seymour and Temepara George, both equally strong on attack and defence.

Both teams go into the match on back of upset wins last weekend.

The Force put in a slick performance to beat defending champions Magic while the Flames held their composure to edge out the Sting.

Willering said she was pleased with the way her team stuck to the game plan and glad that they performed for the full 60 minutes but said they will need to take another step up tomorrow.

"Semifinals netball is a different ball game. In our situation the loser goes home and we are very aware of that."

Flames co-captain Julie Seymour said her side's win over the Sting had given them plenty of confidence, but they were aware a fresh approach would be needed for the Force.

The Flames were successful driving the ball through the middle against the Sting but Seymour said the Force's strong defence would provide them with a different challenge.

"Their forte is the zone defence and it goes right through the court so we will have to change our tactics a little bit," Seymour said.

"But you don't want to change too much because you want to be able to play your own game."

Semifinal Two

Tomorrow: Northern Force v Canterbury Flames, North Shore Events Centre, 1pm, live TV One.