Netball: Rapid-fire playoff test for Magic star Kopua

Casey Kopua's second half appearance in the Magic's gritty 71-69 extra time win against the Steel on Saturday was just the third time she has taken the court this season. Photo / Getty Images

Magic netball coach Julie Fitzgerald is backing her star defender Casey Kopua to be ready to take the court in tonight's New Zealand conference final despite having just two days to recover from the weekend's overtime win against the Steel.

The Waikato-Bay of Plenty side meet the Northern Mystics in Auckland tonight, with the winner taking away the NZ conference trophy and, more importantly, a crucial home semifinal against the Swifts next weekend. The loser will travel to Brisbane to take on the Queensland Firebirds, who yesterday toppled the NSW side 55-44 in the Australian conference final.

Like the Swifts yesterday, the Magic have had just two days to prepare for tonight's clash, with the new-look ANZ Championship finals series squeezing in four playoffs matches over four days.

The tight turnaround is a tough ask on Kopua, who is regaining her match fitness after a serious knee injury.

Kopua's second half appearance in the Magic's gritty 71-69 extra time win against the Steel on Saturday was just the third time she has taken the court this season, following outings against the Tactix (three quarters) and the Pulse (two quarters).

Her workload is being carefully managed by medical staff as they balance the need to give Kopua as much court time as possible ahead of the August World Cup, while making sure she is not being pushed too hard, too soon.

Asked if Kopua can shake off the effects of Saturday's game and get back up again tonight, Fitzgerald said: "Yeah I think so. She surprises me every day; every day I'm amazed with what Casey does."

Fitzgerald said her side had talked a lot in the lead-up to the weekend about the prospect of the short turnaround and believes they have planned well for it. She said most of the focus heading into tonight's match has been on their rest and recovery.

"We've got good procedures in place as to how we're going to recover for the Mystics game and I have every confidence we'll be able to go into that game on a high and the adrenalin from [Saturday] will get us through it."

The Magic and Mystics have met twice this season, the first encounter ending in a draw, while the Auckland side won the second match-up 54-49 in round 12 to secure top spot on the New Zealand conference table with two rounds remaining.

But the Magic, in their eighth straight ANZ Championship playoffs, are proven finals performers and have developed strongly over the season.

Fitzgerald believes her side match up well on the Mystics, but they didn't quite deliver last time they took on the Auckland side at home.

"We were terribly disappointed in the way we played them last time," she said.

"We got off to a dreadful start and then we just played chase the whole time and we were undisciplined in that chase as well."

Mystics captain Maria Tutaia looms as a key figure in tonight's match - the long-range queen was uncharacteristically off target in last week's final round loss to the Melbourne Vixens, shooting at just 53 per cent, and needs to find her shooting eye again if her side are to be a chance.

NZ conference final
Northern Mystics v Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic
Tonight, 7.40pm.
Trusts Arena, Auckland.