Netball: Mystics plan to turn up the heat on Firebirds

Northern Mystics' Joline Henry. Photo / Brett Phibbs

The Queensland Firebirds may be dreadfully out of form, but for the Northern Mystics their round four opponent's poor start to the transtasman league season sounds alarm bells.

The Mystics take on the winless Firebirds in Brisbane tonight in the final match of Rivalry Round.

After being the form team of the pre-season with wins in both the Queenstown and Sydney tournaments, the Firebirds have looked out of sorts early on in the 2010 season, opening with three straight losses.

Their poor run of results has mainly been attributed to the drop-off in form of star shooter Romelda Aiken, who has struggled under the increased attention from opposition defence.

But far from being comforted by the Queensland side's shaky opening round performances, Mystics defender Joline Henry said it will only make the Firebirds more determined tonight.

"That can be a bit of a double-edged sword," Henry said of the Firebirds 0-3 record. "They're a quality side, but they haven't had that quality time to gel together, a bit like us as well."

"They'll be itching for a win, which makes any team dangerous. They need to win to stay in the running for a spot in the semifinals, so that for me sends alarm bells."

But Henry acknowledged the Firebirds' low confidence could be in the visitors' favour if the scores are tight late in the fourth quarter.

"We really need to make sure we build that pressure early on in the game, so come that fourth quarter they're feeling the heat and turning over ball.

"We need to make sure we're sharp and we can go in there with the intensity that's needed and we can sustain it for a full 60 minutes."

In tonight's earlier match, the Canterbury Tactix will be looking to repeat last week's gallant effort against the table-topping NSW Swifts when they host the Melbourne Vixens in Christchurch.

The defending champions have had a couple of late changes to their line-up, with star Australian defender Julie Corletto and midcourter Chelsey Nash ruled out through injury.

Retired defender and former Australian international Demelza McCloud, who filled in for Corletto in the Vixens' opening round win over Magic, has been added to the squad, while Stacey Stanaway replaces Nash.

The Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic kicked off Rivalry Round with a victory for New Zealand, but their experienced line-up dug deep to fight off a determined challenge from the West Coast Fever in Hamilton on Saturday.

Magic coach Noeline Taurua was far from happy with her team's performance in their 55-50 win over the well-drilled Fever side, saying her side squandered far too much possession.

There was disappointment too in the Pulse camp following their 48-35 loss to the NSW Swifts in Sydney. The Wellington side held a surprise three-goal lead at halftime, but could not find the same spark in the second half.

The Swifts were far from compelling but an unassailable 10-0 scoring burst in the third quarter was enough to protect their unbeaten record and leave the Pulse winless after four rounds.

The Adelaide Thunderbirds were too good for the Southern Steel last night, winning 53-36 in Adelaide.