KEY POINTS:
In 2005, the Magic did it with "heart". Last year, they managed to "eclipse" all others.
In the final year of the National Bank Cup, the Magic's team theme is "transcend" - to go above and beyond what is expected, to overcome or be superior.
If the Magic
are to win the national title for a third year running, they must first transcend their bogey team, the Diamonds, in tomorrow's elimination semifinal in Rotorua. It will be their longest route to the final yet.
"To transcend, we mean to go where no other team has gone before," says Magic co-captain Joline Henry, who's studying for her masters in social sciences, majoring in psychology.
With every game this season, the buzz word has taken on new meaning. Tomorrow it is to transcend their on-court mistakes and "come a little closer" to perfection, Henry says.
It's been a topsy-turvy year for the defending champions who will finish the season fourth if they lose to the Diamonds - who haven't lost to the Magic since 2005.
"We had a lot of new players this year, and we lost our stalwart Amigene Metcalfe. We've had to deal with new dynamics - the new ones coming into our culture, and then embracing their talents. It's been a challenge," says Henry.
"This game will be won by the team who execute their game plan the best and make the least errors. We haven't really realised that yet, but if we do we will win and win convincingly."
Goal defence Henry and goal keep Casey Williams - who were the stand-out defensive pairing on the Silver Ferns' tour of England last month - acknowledge they have a challenge keeping the ball out of the hands of the Diamonds' and Ferns' shooting partnership of Maria Tutaia and Paula Griffin.
"Once they get the ball and they're shooting well, there's not much that will bounce off the hoop," Henry says.
"We've got to put our presence on them. The beauty is we know their game well."
At the other end, the Magic will be counting on Irene van Dyk continuing her incredible home form. She yet again finished the round-robin as the country's most prolific shooter with a 96 per cent average.
For the Diamonds, Tutaia averaged 82 per cent, Griffin 78, and Susan Tagicakibau 85.
Magic coach Noeline Taurua said her side faced do-or-die scenarios in the last two matches, so tomorrow would be no different.
"We've been so inconsistent, like yo-yos. Once you get through to the top four, you honestly don't care how you got there."