Netball: Heat is on as Force take on Flames

She stands at an impressive 1.90m, but Flames defender Vilimaina Davu reckons her jumping shoes have been a must in this year's National Bank Cup.

So she's not fazed about tackling the towering figure of Daneka Wipiiti in tonight's major semifinal to decide who will meet the Sting in the final in a week's time.

"It will be another tough match-up for me with another tall bird at the back," Davu said.

"Throughout the whole season I feel like I have been playing against taller shooters but that is okay, it helps my defence."

Wipiiti does have quite a height advantage over many of her opponents, but last weekend the tall Magic defenders made life extremely difficult for her ... something which Davu and the Flames noted.

"Daneka moves quite a bit, she comes out of the circle, which is really good to see, because she used to just hold in the circle.

"She is very good at rebounding and that kind of basketball blocking, so for me it is going to be tough."

While double-teaming Wipiiti is an option, Davu concedes it wouldn't be wise to allow Force goal attack Teresa Tairi to roam free.

"They do share the workload pretty well. If things aren't going Daneka's way then Teresa stands up and puts the shots up.

"To have shooters that are so dominant in the circle, I think is a big advantage for them."

The Flames go into the match on the back of a "disappointing" loss to the Sting while the Force picked up their fifth consecutive win last weekend, beating the Magic.

The telling difference in that match was the Force's exceptional defence which starved the Magic shooters of the ball.

She said the team that produced the fewest errors would play the Sting in the final.

"The Force are well balanced through the court. We respect them as a team, they have players capable of winning," Davu said.

"I really believe that both teams have the calibre of players that can do the job.

"Going up there it will be a tough game for us.

"I love playing at North Harbour, though, it is a great atmosphere, it is kind of like playing down at Invercargill."

The Flames failed to make the top four last year, and Davu said the team would love nothing more than to make the final a South Island affair.

"We have had a couple of quiet games lately, but this weekend it is do or die and we are a team that really wants to be in the final."

* The match will be screened live on TV One from 7.30pm.