Netball: Mystics up for Vixens clash

Sharelle McMahon says the Vixens will focus on playing quality netball. Photo / Paul Estcourt

If the Melbourne Vixens were banking on a smooth run in to the transtasman league play-offs, the Northern Mystics have other ideas.

Sitting in eighth place on the ANZ Championship table having notched up just three wins this season, the Auckland team is in no mood to be accommodating.

The Mystics take on the Vixens at Waitakere's Trusts Stadium today, hoping to make the Melbourne side's road to the semifinals a little bit bumpier.

The second-placed Vixens are one of the glamour teams of the transtasman league and Mystics coach Te Aroha Keenan said the match presents the perfect opportunity for her side to show what they are capable of.

"We're eighth on the table, that's nothing to be proud of," said Keenan.

"But now we're back at home in front of a sell-out crowd we have a chance to go out there and restore some pride."

The Vixens are stacked with world-class players, including Australian defenders Julie Corletto and Bianca Chatfield, along with test skipper Sharelle McMahon. For many of the young Mystics players it will potentially be the first time they've played against some of these big names but Keenan said they won't be overawed.

"All of them want to play against those players, they want to match their skills against them. It's a great challenge and it's not one they want to back away from," said Keenan.

Of all the sides in the top four the Vixens have the most favourable run home, meeting the weakest three New Zealand sides - the Mystics, Canterbury Tactix and the Central Pulse - over the final three rounds of the competition.

Given the Vixens take on the Tactix and Pulse back in the comfort and safety of home, today's clash is shaping up as the trickiest of the three.

While much has been made of the poor record of the Kiwi franchises across the Tasman, New Zealand isn't always a happy hunting ground for visiting Australian sides.

The Tactix' shock win over the Queensland Firebirds in Christchurch last weekend provided a timely reminder for the Vixens that there are no guarantees in this league, particularly when you consider the impact the variations in umpiring interpretations are having on results.

After a seven-goal loss to the Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic in Tauranga two weeks ago, Vixens' coach Julie Hoornweg is very conscious of the challenges playing on this side of the Tasman presents for her side.

"We need to make sure we read the opposition and adjust when we need to. That's probably something that's missing against the Magic," said Hoornweg.

With only goal percentage separating the Magic and the Vixens from first and second place on the ladder the Melbourne side are aware of the importance goal percentage will play in determining semifinal spots.

But Vixens shooter McMahon said her side's primary concern is playing quality netball and securing the two points.

"Definitely that goal percentage is going to be hugely important but in no way are we going out there thinking this is going to be a percentage booster for us because you're in danger then of actually missing the point of winning in the first place," she said.

The Adelaide Thunderbirds will likely give their goal percentage a healthy boost when they take on the Pulse in Adelaide today. The Pulse are fresh off a 32-goal pasting to the Magic last weekend and they can expect the same sort of treatment from the in-form Thunderbirds.

The NSW Swifts will be looking to avenge their shock loss to the West Coast Fever in round two when they meet the young Perth side in Sydney tomorrow.

The Magic take on the Tactix on Monday night, before the Southern Steel and Queensland Firebirds battle it out for fourth position on the ladder.

ROUND 12

Today: 2pm Northern Mystics v Melbourne Vixens, Auckland; 4pm Adelaide Thunderbirds v Central Pulse, Adelaide.

Tomorrow: 4.30pm NSW Swifts v West Coast Fever, Sydney.

Monday: 7pm Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic v Canterbury Tactix, Rotorua; 9pm Queensland Firebirds v Southern Steel, Brisbane.