Netball: Mystics bullish in quest for play-offs

The Northern Mystics know their fight to keep their season alive may cost New Zealand a second team in the transtasman league play-offs but they're not letting it stop them from giving it everything.

The Mystics take on the Southern Steel in Auckland on Monday night in a match that could determine the fate of both sides' campaigns.

Of the two sides, the Steel, sitting in third place on the ladder, look to have the best chance of making it beyond the regular season.

But with a tough final round clash in Sydney against the NSW Swifts, who have already sewn up the minor premiership, the Steel need to nail Monday night's match.

The Mystics, though, aren't willing to give up on their slim hopes of making the finals. Shooter Maria Tutaia said while New Zealand fans may rather see the Steel win to boost the chances of having two Kiwi sides in the play-offs, the Mystics have to fight for their own cause.

"We're out there representing Auckland so that's where our loyalty lies. And we still believe we can make it ourselves so we're not going to blow this opportunity," she said.

The penultimate round kicks off today with the Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic taking on the Central Pulse in Wellington.

While it is shaping up as a mismatch, there will be plenty of interest in the game.

After slipping to fourth on the ladder on the back of three straight losses, the Magic are fighting for their survival with several other teams challenging for a top-four spot.

The Melbourne Vixens are also under huge pressure to arrest their run of poor form but it is unlikely the defending champions will be able snap their six-game losing streak against the Swifts.

In the other all-Australian game of the round, the Thunderbirds will be looking to cement second place on the ladder with a win over the West Coast Fever in Adelaide.

After a shaky performance against the Pulse last week, the Queensland Firebirds will be eager to put together a much more convincing display against the Canterbury Tactix in Brisbane on Monday night.

But the Queensland side suffered a setback yesterday with Netball Australia rejecting the franchise's application to sign English international Tamsin Greenway as a permanent replacement for injured midcourter Sarah Wall.

Monday night will be the last opportunity to bed down their new midcourt combination before next week's pivotal final-round clash against the Fever.

New Zealand's hopes of having two sides in the play-offs will likely hinge on the Fever beating their Queensland rivals.

ANZ CHAMPIONSHIP
Round 13

Saturday
* 2.20pm Central Pulse v Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic, Napier;
* 4.20pm Melbourne Vixens v NSW Swifts, Melbourne.

Sunday
* 4.50pm Adelaide Thunderbirds v West Coast Fever, Adelaide.

Monday
* 7.20pm Northern Mystics v Southern Steel, Auckland;
* 9.05pm Queensland Firebirds v Canterbury Tactix, Brisbane.