By JULIE ASH
While their opposition are battling it out for the final three semifinal spots, the Southern Sting have the luxury of being able to kick back and relax a little.
Having completed their final round robin game last weekend the defending champions have already secured first place and a home semifinal.
With just a loss against the Rebels in round two, the Sting, gunning for their fifth consecutive title, finished the competition with 29 points.
The question is now which three of the five contenders will join them in the playoffs? There are many permutations.
With just a round to play on Sunday, North Harbour's Force, the Bay of Plenty/Waikato Magic, the Otago Rebels, the Auckland Diamonds and the Canterbury Flames are all still in the running.
The Force should beat the Capital Shakers at North Shore Events Centre and finish second, which will secure them the second home semi.
The most intriguing battle of the weekend will be the Rebels/Magic clash in Dunedin.
The winner could finish as high as second if the Force stumble, but are more likely to finish third.
If the loser of the Rebels/Magic match finishes within five goals of the winner and secures a bonus point they will also make the top four - provided the Diamonds lose to the Canterbury Flames in Christchurch.
If the Flames beat the Diamonds and either the Magic or the Rebels lose by more than five goals, the team with the better goal differential will advance.
At the moment, the Flames have a slightly better differential than the Rebels and the Magic.
In the five games between the Rebels and the Magic since the league began in 1998, the Rebels won in 1998, 1999 and 2000 while the Magic have had the edge over the past two years.
How young Rebel defenders Stephanie Bond and Anna Scarlett fare against the highly accurate Irene van Dyk could well determine the outcome.
If the match is drawn both the Magic and the Rebels will progress to the semis.
In the other match of the final round, the Counties Manukau Cometz are on the road, facing the Western Flyers in Palmerston North.
It is a matchup between second last and last.
The Cometz have one win to show for their season, the Flyers have not even managed a bonus point.
All round nine matches start at 1pm on Sunday.
Netball: Playoffs puzzle clicks in like a Rubik's cube
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