Triumphant Adelaide Thunderbirds coach Jane Woodlands-Thompson expects cashed-up rivals to try to poach many of her transtasman netball championship winners.

Coach Roselee Jencke is confident a nerve-testing preliminary final win over the Melbourne Vixens will stand the Queensland Firebirds in good stead.

The Magic's margin for error in the transtasman league is narrowing, with stiffer competition on the home front this season.

Joline Henry's return to the netball court came at just the right time for the Central Pulse as they beat the Southern Steel 59-56 in Palmerston North tonight.

There are fears that better pay deals will see one of the 'Big Four' quit the championship-winning Magic.