Northern Mystics coach Te Aroha Keenan has instituted a zero-waste policy heading into today's transtasman league match-up against the Central Pulse.
The Mystics' opening-round win over the Adelaide Thunderbirds last weekend made uncomfortable viewing for Keenan after her side frittered away a 10-goal lead in the final quarter allowing the
visitors to draw level with a couple of minutes left on the clock.
While the Auckland side scraped through with the two points in the end, Keenan is keen to ensure the Mystics don't put her through the same sort of angst again. So the focus this week has been on making sure that when they build a lead, they maintain it.
"The Thunderbirds showed if we take our foot off the accelerator a 10-goal lead can diminish to nothing, so we need to make sure that doesn't happen again on Saturday," said Keenan.
"That means really looking after our possession. We need to make sure we retain ball from the centre-pass - that was one area we identified we struggled in last week."
Keenan is expecting another tough battle from the Pulse, who are reeling from a disappointing first-up loss to the Canterbury Tactix on Monday night. Although the Wellington-based side misfired in the opening round, their last quarter fightback, in which they overturned a 17-goal deficit to six, has Keenan feeling a wee bit twitchy.
"They're fighters - if you give them an opportunity, they'll take it. You can't take your foot off the accelerator with them ... out there."
But Silver Ferns defender Katrina Grant, one of the Pulse's star recruits for the 2010 season, couldn't bring herself to praise the fighting qualities her side displayed on Monday night.
"It was definitely a missed opportunity," said Grant. "We just didn't go out there and grab it with both hands."
The easy-going defender, who had a forgettable debut for the Pulse, said her side have binned their opening performance and are ready to go out and show what they are capable of today.
"If we play properly and stick to what we know, there's no reason why we can't beat them."
ANZ CHAMPS - ROUND 2
Today: Central Pulse v Northern Mystics, 2.20pm, Porirua; Adelaide Thunderbirds v NSW Swifts, 4.20pm, Adelaide.
Tomorrow: Melbourne Vixens v Queensland Firebirds, 4.50pm, Melbourne.
Monday: Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic v Southern Steel, 7.20pm, Rotorua; West Coast Fever v Canterbury Tactix, 9.05pm, Perth.
