The win boosted the Magic to third place on the ladder, earning them the right to host the Thunderbirds - the team they demolished by 17 goals last week - in next Monday's sudden-death final.
Although the Magic's place in the finals was virtually assured after the Mystics' heart-stopping one-goal win over the Swiftson Sunday, a win was considered crucial as they endeavoured to continue the strong momentum they've built over the past 10 weeks.
The feisty Firebirds offered the Magic the kind of brutal preparation they needed heading into the finals and they came through the test well.
With last night's win the Magic maintained their record as the only side in the competition to feature in the finals every year.
Their consistency is impressive, but their post-season record is not. Of the 10 play-off matches they've been involved in, they have won just three.
But the Magic are entering the finals this year playing the most consistent netball we've seen from them in five seasons.
Magic coach Noeline Taurua is hopeful their 0-4 start, which almost proved terminal for their campaign, could be the very thing that helps her side finally lift the ANZ Championship trophy this season.
"I think, ironically [the poor start] has helped us become a winning side," Taurua said. "It forced us to really take a hard look at ourselves and I think we are playing some of the best netball Magic have played."
As far as continuing trends go, the result also maintained the league's unusual record whereby defending champions have failed to make the play-offs the year after.
Red-hot favourites to take out the title at the beginning of the season, the Firebirds were tipped to become the first side to win back-to-back championships.
But the curse of the premiers struck again, as the Queensland side could not recapture the form that saw them blitz through the 2011 season unbeaten.
While they were beginning to find some spark later in the season, they needed to beat the Magic by more than 20 goals last night to force their way into the top four.
While the 10-goal scoreline suggested a comfortable victory to the Magic, the Firebirds offered stiff resistance. Trailing 27-24 at the main break, the Firebirds got their noses in front for the first time in the match shortly after the resumption, with the Magic making an untidy start to their second half.
But the Magic steadied the ship with a couple of timely pick-ups in the defensive end to regain the lead heading into the final turn.
THE PLAY-OFFS
Major semifinal Sunday, 4.20pm
Melbourne Vixens v Northern Mystics
Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne
Minor semifinalMonday, 7.40pm
Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic v Adelaide Thunderbirds
Claudelands Arena, Hamilton
The winner of the major semifinal will go straight through the grand final, while the loser will play the winner of the minor semifinal at home for the remaining spot in the grand final.
