Netball: Magic in bid to take league's top spot

The Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic's hopes of finishing minor premiers for the second year running may rest on the outcome of their round-10 match tonight against the Melbourne Vixens.

The Magic take on the transtasman league leaders in Tauranga knowing a loss would give the Vixens a four-point buffer at the top of the table. Defeat would almost certainly end their chances of nabbing the all-important top spot heading into the playoffs.

Magic coach Noeline Taurua admits that snatching two points off the competition frontrunners is crucial to their home playoff chances and their title aspirations.

"We are getting into that important phase of the business end of the season now where the two points on offer each time is huge," said Taurua.

Flush with Silver Ferns talent, Magic will need to be at the top of their game to have any chance against an equally star-studded but more accurate Vixens side, unbeaten all season.

But the Vixens have shown some vulnerabilities in recent matches, needing extra time to dispatch the NSW Swifts in round eight before coming from behind to beat the Queensland Firebirds last weekend.

However Taurua is drawing little comfort from the Vixens' near-stumbles in recent rounds.

"I would think they would have learned some really good lessons over the last couple of weeks and the fact they managed to come through those tight matches and get the two points would only have strengthened their team and their team unity,"she said.

The Vixens have some brilliant individual performers in their team, with a formidable defensive pairing in Bianca Chatfield and Julie Corletto, and a fast and creative attack line.

Australian captain Sharelle McMahon has been a standout for the Vixens this year after being hampered by a knee injury for most of last season.

To claim the win, Vixens not only have to minimise the impact of the league's most accurate shooter in Irene van Dyk, and the most dominant defender in Casey Williams, they must also tackle the quirks of the New Zealand style of umpiring.

Tonight's match is the first time the Melbourne side have played outside Australia this season.

The Vixens' defensive pairing of Corletto and Chatfield, who is expected to return to the court tonight after sitting out last week's match with a minor knee injury, has been impressive all season.

But because the New Zealand umpires generally do not allow the level of contesting their Australian counterparts do, the outstanding pair may struggle to make the same impact in Tauranga.

However Chatfield, who was heavily penalised the last time the Vixens crossed the Tasman in last season's shock one-goal loss to the Southern Steel, is playing down the impact the Kiwi umpires may have on her game.

"Perhaps as defenders we may have to change a little bit how we will play, but I think overall as a team we have to focus on playing our own game and the umpires really shouldn't come in to it," said Chatfield, a veteran of 36 tests.

"I think it's frustrating but I don't actually think it's just a typical New Zealand-Australian thing. When we're playing Australian teams you get frustrated by some of the calls. So I think it's about being a smart player and you'll find that the defenders who adjust quickly to what the umpires are calling are the ones who have the most success in the end."

Also tonight, the Southern Steel get to take on the West Coast Fever in Perth in the late game.

The Steel need a win to firm up their place in the top four, but with a win across the Tasman so far proving elusive for the New Zealand franchises, it will take a mighty effort from the Steel to get one over the Fever at home.

The Northern Mystics got a taste of just how uncomfortable life can be on Australian soil, suffering a 34-58 loss - their biggest defeat of the season - to the Adelaide Thunderbirds on Saturday.

The Canterbury Tactix picked up their third win of the season, outclassing the Central Pulse in Wellington.