By JULIE ASH
Four will become three this weekend as the national league gets down to the business end of the season.
The revised format means the winner of tonight's Sting and Flames match will advance straight to the final. Next weekend, the loser plays the winner of the Force and Magic game to decide the other finalist.
The Christchurch-based Flames are likely to feel the full wrath of the Sting tonight following the Invercargill side's loss to the Force last weekend.
"That puts a bit of pressure on us because people know that in the past when we have come off a loss, we have fired up and demolished the next team we have played," said the Sting's Tania Dalton.
"We want that home final so we want this game badly."
The last time the two sides met, back in round four, nothing separated them for most of the match, but the Flames fell away in the last quarter which allowed their rivals to come through with a comfortable, 58-49 win.
The game is likely to be decided in the midcourt and who can create the most turnovers.
"Having Donna [Loffhagen] and Adine [Harper] who are quite tall does create ball for our defence to come through and get so that is something we will be looking for," Dalton said.
The Magic will go into Sunday's match as favourites, having beaten the Force 54-42 in the round robin even though the Force had three more attempts at goal.
But the Force will be feeling pretty confident following their 12-goal win over the Sting last weekend. The question is, can they produce a similar performance on Sunday?
"I believe we can get up there again," said Force defence captain Linda Vagana.
"We finally executed the plan on court we have talked about all season.
"I don't think all of our players had been thinking along the same lines so it was just about getting that clarity."
Magic captain Jenny-May Coffin is well aware of the Force's performance last weekend, and said there would be no room for complacency.
"They have had a few patchy performances here and there but most teams in the competition have," Coffin said. "They are a class side. They made the finals last year and pushed Sting to the limit. We are certainly not going to take anything for granted."
Tonight's match between the Sting and Flames is live on TV1 at 7.30. Sunday's match between the Magic and Force is live from 1pm.
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