KEY POINTS:
They have the big names, but the Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic this season have rarely produced the big game to match.
It is these sorts of "home truths" Magic coach Noeline Taurua believes her side need to face up to - or their season will be over on Monday night.
The Magic do battle with the Adelaide Thunderbirds in the preliminary final for the chance to take on the NSW Swifts for the transtasman title.
Most had expected the Magic to take the direct route to the final, but, having been plagued by inconsistency all season, they were undone by another patchy display against the Swifts in last weekend's major semifinal.
So, if the Magic are to be the first side to have their named etched on the ANZ Championship trophy, they must take the hard road.
Taurua says their journey begins with individuals taking responsibility for their performances. "I think we need to face a few home truths with regards to the people that we have in our team. We've got some big names in our team and they need to start standing up."
Despite a dismal third-quarter effort last week, the Magic came back at the Swifts and had a chance to win the match. After failing to do so, they still could have levelled the score with 10 seconds left on the clock.
But a poorly executed pass from captain Amigene Metcalfe and then a missed shot at goal from Maria Tutaia handed the match to the Swifts.
Taurua is disappointed her experienced side didn't show the courage and composure down the home stretch to close out the match.
But the straight-talking Magic coach doesn't want to dwell on the negative.
The Magic have spent a lot of time this week focusing on their attack end, which is expected to come under extreme pressure from the physical Thunderbirds. They're bracing themselves for a muscular approach from the visitors, but Taurua said her side just need to rise above it.
"They contest everything on the ball and also on the body as well, and it's something that we have to prepare ourselves for," she said.
"Our structure has not been good when we're under pressure. So it's once again looking at those links and going back to our structure and see what we can do there to tidy that up."
SCOREBOARD
Road to the playoffs
WAIKATO/BAY OF PLENTY MAGIC
Rnd 1: v Thunderbirds 46-42 W
Rnd 2: v Mystics 56-52 W
Rnd 3: v Swifts 50-47 L
Rnd 4: v Fever 61-47 W
Rnd 5: v Pulse 54-37 W
Rnd 6: v Mystics 59-45 W
Rnd 7: v Steel 56-47 W
Rnd 8: v Tactix 54-50 W
Rnd 9: BYE
Rnd 10: v Firebirds 56-50 W
Rnd 11: v Vixens 47-40 L
Rnd 12: v Pulse 46-41 W
Rnd 13: v Steel 47-43 L
Rnd 14: v Tactix 69-44
Major semi: v Swifts 57-56 L
ADELAIDE THUNDERBIRDS
Rnd 1: v Magic 46-42 L
Rnd 2: v Fever 54-41 W
Rnd 3: v Vixens 39-38 W
Rnd 4: v Steel 54-41 W
Rnd 5: BYE
Rnd 6: v Fever 66-50 W
Rnd 7: v Vixens 52-46 L
Rnd 8: v Swifts 50-44 L
Rnd 9: v Firebirds 47-41 W
Rnd 10: v Tactix 61-41 W
Rnd 11: v Mystics 48-47 W
Rnd 12: v Swifts 51-41 L
Rnd 13: v Firebirds 66-47 W
Rnd 14: v Pulse 44-32 W
Minor semi: v Vixens 53-48 W
