KEY POINTS:
Adelaide Thunderbirds coach Jane Woodlands senses some vulnerabilities in the Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic side ahead of tonight's transtasman preliminary final.
In the pressure and intensity of finals netball where teams are fairly evenly matched, so often it is the top two inches that determines the outcome of matches.
It was arguably a lack of mental fortitude that cost the Magic a win over the NSW Swifts last week. Despite going missing in the third quarter, the Waikato side produced a strong comeback and had every chance to win the match, but lacked the composure in the crucial stages.
Woodlands suspects self-doubt may have set in to the Magic camp following their semifinal loss.
"I don't think they would have enjoyed losing last week, I think they were really counting on a home grand final, so that would have shaken them up a fair bit," she said.
"I guess there's a bit of backhand pressure on them now, it's a bit like 'oh, could we have that happen to us again'?"
The Thunderbirds meanwhile head into the match with a great deal of confidence after their impressive win over the Melbourne Vixens in last week's minor semifinal.
Like the Magic, the Adelaide side have struggled for consistency this season but they managed to overcome a shaky start to overwhelm the Vixens in the last three quarters of the match with a gutsy and determined display.
"We're fairly buoyant. We know we travel well, our away record is as good as our home record, so the two teams are arriving at this match with completely different mindsets," the Thunderbirds coach said.
However Woodlands has been eager to ensure her side did not get too carried away after their 53-48 win over the Vixens. With South Australia and Victoria traditional rivals, last Monday's win was a huge occasion for the Thunderbirds.
But Woodlands said her side quickly let that go and refocused on the Magic, whom she rates as a huge step up: "Finals are just so exciting and with a young team it is easy to spill over ...
"The Magic are a completely different kettle of fish: they've been top four for most of the year and are a lot more experienced and we need a completely different gameplan, so the focus was pretty quickly shifted around."
Defensively, the Thunderbirds have the best record in the competition, having conceded the least goals against them. But critics have argued they have at times been overly physical, with tenacious defenders Mo'onia Gerrard and Bianca Reddy earning reputations as bullies.
But Thunderbirds captain Natalie von Bertouch has laughed off suggestions her side use rough-house tactics and said her side need to continue to be ruthless on defence if they are to topple the Magic tonight.
