Netball: Kopua adamant Magic can't be ruled out as title contenders

Magic's Casey Kopua and Firebirds Gabi Simpson in action during the ANZ Champs. Photo / Getty Images

Their record over the past five weeks suggests the Magic will struggle to be competitive in the transtasman league playoffs beginning this weekend. Casey Kopua disagrees.

The Magic captain will become the only player to have featured in all seven finals series when she runs out on court against the Swifts in tomorrow's minor semifinal, so you are inclined to listen to the star defender. The Waikato-Bay of Plenty side, the only Kiwi team to make the top four in 2014, head into their seventh straight finals campaign after four losses from their past five games, making them rank outsiders for the crown.

"While we haven't got the results we wanted over the past few weeks, we've proved we're still good enough to be [in the top four]," said Kopua.

"Once you're in the finals anything can happen. We need to forget about the last few weeks ... all that matters is what we do from here."

But there is one game the Magic have kept at the forefront of their mind as they prepare for tomorrow's sudden-death clash in Sydney: the 12-goal walloping they received at the hands of the Swifts in their last meeting two weeks ago. After competing well early on, a major lapse through the middle stages of the game cost the Magic dearly.

"I think the girls are quite keen to have another crack at the Swifts," said Magic coach Julie Fitzgerald, who returns to her hometown to take on her former side this weekend.

"We've shown that we're capable of running with these teams but we've always had these blowouts for two or three minutes where we've let teams get a lead that we haven't been able to pull back, so I think it's a little bit of inexperience at being able to sustain the effort under such pressure.

"We showed improvement in those areas against the Firebirds and I'm confident we can right the ship."

Swifts coach Rob Wright is wary of underestimating the Magic based on their late season results. Knowing what he knows of his former mentor Fitzgerald, he expects their opponents to arrive in Sydney well-drilled and well-prepared.

"They haven't had a good couple of weeks, but when that happens I always think that really steels a team and they go away and really focus on what they can do to improve."

A final-round loss to the Northern Mystics has also given the Swifts plenty to think about heading into the playoffs. The loss cost the NSW side the minor premiership and an extra life in the finals, but Wright said his side are undeterred by the prospect of having to take the tough road to a title decider.

"I always think it's not what's happened, it's what you do next and I'm excited to see how the players respond this week."

The Swifts were struck a further injury blow ahead of last weekend's match in Auckland, with wing attack Sarah Wall ruled out with a calf injury. Wright will leave it as late as possible beforedeciding on Wall's fitness.

The winner of tomorrow's match will advance to face the loser of Monday's major semifinal between the Melbourne Vixens and the Queensland Firebirds in the preliminary final. The winner of the Melbourne clash will advance directly to the grand final.