Determined Mystics have plenty left to play for

With nothing left to lose, Northern Mystic's defender Stephanie Bond said Monday's clash with  Southern Steel will be one to watch.
"The team is really looking forward to the game - both teams feel they have nothing to lose," she said.
ANZ Championship victories have eluded the Northern Mystics this season - they have won only three games from nine  in ten rounds of an intense competition, leaving them eighth on the ladder.
Brilliance has shone through in patches from the Mystics contingent, yet inconsistency has plagued the team this season - the girls struggling to play solid netball for the full 60 minutes.
However, it is not all darkness and gloom - individuals have blossomed including Dargaville's Bond, who, in recent weeks, has lifted her game at goal defence combining exquisitely with goal keep Vilimaina Davu.
The pairing was instrumental in the Mystics' one goal win over the Canterbury Tactix two weeks ago, gaining intercepts and forcing turnovers.
"I feel our whole defensive game is  starting to click - we're going  well at that end of the court," Bond said.
Last week's clash with title contenders Adelaide Thunderbirds was a step up again, she said.
The Mystics were thumped by the third-placed team who are climbing the ladder, 58-34.
"They are one of the top teams and they really brought their A-game," Bond said.
"We played well for three quarters but blew out."
The intensity of the match led to errors creeping into the Mystics' structured game.
"It was the same old story - we threw away too many balls and made some silly errors - they were able to score off them."
Fellow Northland product Cathrine Latu was superb at goal shoot, keeping the Mystics in the match early on with some long shots  as the midcourt struggled to penetrate the hefty Adelaide circle defence.
Bond has proved her worth with the Mystics this season, featuring in three categories of ANZ Championship statistics  after nine rounds.
The 1.83m defender sat ninth for the deflections category with 29 for the season, and she was also ninth in the intercepts category - grabbing 13.
The third category was contact penalties, and Bond was hung out to dry, second on the list with 108 calls against her.
When questioned about her team's hopes for the remainder of the season, Bond was optimistic.
"There are still four games left - and you don't know what could happen," she said.
"We're still aiming to win every game - and there could be a few upsets which would move the ladder around a lot - it's an interesting competition in that respect."
As for netball after the ANZ Championship with the international season looming large, Bond was open to what could happen next.
"I haven't thought about it much actually - I'm just enjoying playing at the moment, and getting the court time I'm given," she said.
When asked about her chances of making the Silver Ferns for the first time this year, up against such names as Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic's Casey Williams, Bond replied: "The door is always open - anything could happen.
"I just play my best each time I go out there."
The Northern Mystics face Southern Steel at Stadium Southland on Monday, at 7pm, seeking revenge after their 51-52 loss during round one.
In other ANZ Championship matches, the Canterbury Tactix play the Queensland Firebirds at 2pm today , at Westpac Arena in  Christchurch, and the Thunderbirds meet the West Coast Fever at ETSA Stadium in Adelaide tomorrow.
The Central Pulse are up against the Magic tomorrow at Wellington's TSB Stadium, and on Monday, NSW Swifts clash with Melbourne Vixens at Sydney's Olympic Stadium.