Netball: Magic need to cast strong spell on Vixens

Mystic Joline Henry (right) tussles for the ball against Adelaide. Photo / Steven McNicholl

They've been able to lay low over the pre-season, but there will be nowhere to hide for the Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic tonight when they open their ANZ Championship campaign against reigning premiers the Melbourne Vixens.

Having opted to bypass pre-season tournaments in Queenstown and Sydney, preferring to work quietly in their own backyard, little has been seen or heard from the Magic in the lead-up to the start of the competition.

But their strategy means the spotlight on them will be even more intense in tonight's season-opener.

The match will provide a solid gauge of just how far the Magic have come since their dismal end to the 2009 season - there is scarcely a sterner test in the league than taking on the defending champions on their own patch.

Magic coach Noeline Taurua said her side were ready to face the glare of the netball public.

"We're very happy with where we are ... we've just been chugging along and doing our own stuff," Taurua said.

"We're at the stage now where we need to engage in serious competition to see where our strengths and weaknesses are and how good our strategies are. It is now about testing ourselves as a team and individuals.

"This is going to be a tester as to how effective our build-up has been or not. It will be a gauge but it won't define our season."

The Vixens and the Magic were the top two teams at the end of the regular season in 2009.

While the Melbourne side found another gear and rocketed to the league title, the Magic imploded, convincingly beaten by the Vixens in the first semifinal, before suffering another humiliating loss to the Adelaide Thunderbirds in the preliminary final.

Taurua believes the two sides' respective fortunes last season will play in to the Magic's favour tonight.

"[The Vixens] will come out this season with the expectations already on their shoulders and the pressures that go with that," she said.

The Vixens have not been without their problems with star defender Julie Corletto likely to be on the sidelines due to a slow recovery from off-season surgery to both knees.

Mercurial shooter Sharelle McMahon has also had a limited off-season after surgery, but is expected to bib up.

In tonight's other match, the Canterbury Tactix take on the beefed-up Central Pulse in Christchurch.

With the Tactix losing the bulk of their key talent from last season, the Pulse have a strong opportunity to double their winning record in the league.

The Northern Mystics confirmed their billing as top-four contenders this year, pulling off an historic 55-52 win over the Thunderbirds in Auckland on Saturday.

It was the Mystics' first victory over an Australian franchise and left coach Te Aroha Keenan "glowing".

But nagging away at the back of Keenan's mind will also be the concern that her side very nearly blew it, letting a 10-goal lead four minutes into the final quarter evaporate after the Thunderbirds staged a late revival.

"What happened in that last quarter is something to think about and look at how we played it and how we reacted under pressure. But to their credit they stopped it," said Keenan.

"Probably what would have happened with the Mystics of the past they would have let it run and then said 'oh what a shame, but we're winning the third quarter', so I was really pleased with the fight they showed."

ANZ Championship

* Northern Mystics 55 Adelaide Thunderbirds 52

* NSW Swifts 50 Queensland Firebirds 47

* Southern Steel 46 West Coast Fever 44

Tonight

* Canterbury Tactix v Central Pulse

* Melbourne Vixens v Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic