KEY POINTS:
Despite mixed fortunes in the opening transtasman league rounds, the Kiwi franchises are all in a similar frame of mind as the domestic battles continue over the next month.
Keen to start racking up the points and make some headway on the ANZ Championship ladder, the New
Zealand sides are all acutely aware of the significance of the matches over the next few weeks.
Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic coach Noeline Taurua said the Kiwi teams all seem intent on not dropping the ball against their fellow New Zealand franchises.
"I think everyone is sort of in the same mindset. It is definitely about winning your New Zealand games because when you hit the Australian games things are a lot more uncertain," Taurua said.
In light of this, it makes today's match-up between the Southern Sting and Canterbury Tactix in Invercargill all the more crucial for both sides. Each of the teams are sitting on two wins a piece with their last meeting in round three going in Steel's favour.
Tactix captain and assistant coach Julie Seymour said her players were extremely disappointed after their 51-42 humbling at the hands of the Steel three weeks ago, but she is pleased they have a chance to avenge the loss.
"Previously in our national competition you'd play everyone once and then you might get into a semifinal, which was your only chance to re-play someone," Seymour said. "An exciting thing about this competition is you can look back, see what worked, what didn't work and what they did against us."
The Tactix come in to the round six encounter fresh from a bye last weekend. For the Steel they will need to quickly forget their performance against the Northern Mystics where they led for the entire game before the Auckland side stole the points in the final stages.
In this afternoon's other game, the Queensland Firebirds' semifinal credentials will be put to the test when they take on the NSW Swifts in Brisbane. Vicki Wilson's Firebirds have been quietly going about their business in 2008, but all eyes will be on them if they can overcome the Swifts.
ROUND SIX
Today: 2.30pm Southern Steel v Canterbury Tactix, Invercargill; 4.30pm Queensland Firebirds v NSW Swifts, Brisbane.
Monday: 7pm Northern Mystics v Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic, Auckland; 9pm Adelaide Thunderbirds v West Coast Fever, Adelaide.
Byes: Melbourne Vixens, Central Pulse.
