KEY POINTS:
Wellington will fancy their chances in the national men's league finals series starting in Lower Hutt on Saturday.
They earned the top ranking for the three-team series after completing the round robin with a record of eight wins and two losses.
Both losses were inflicted by their rivals
in the finals, Auckland and Canterbury, and Wellington coach Les Bishop said his team were well aware of the task in front of them.
"This weekend, all the teams are going to be on top of their game and it will come down to whoever plays well on the day. All three teams are competitive," he said.
He considers a strong defence will be needed because all three teams have considerable hitting power.
Wellington's finals record is not the best. They have reached the play-offs for four successive years, but have just the one title to show for it.
Bishop said his players had learned from past disappointments and were aware of the need to perform.
"All the players have been in this situation before and Wellington have been unlucky in the last few years.
"All the players understand that just because you are a quality team you are not just going to win it.
"Winning comes down to the team that plays well in the specific game."
Donny Hale, player-coach of two-time champions Auckland, thinks the play-offs will come down to strong hitting and a bit of luck.
"Whoever turns up to play ball this weekend and is mentally tough will come away with it. The teams play each other so many times and there is not much between them, just one hit or one error can turn a game," Hale said.
The women's play-offs featuring Hutt Valley, defending champions Auckland and Canterbury are being contested in Lower Hutt.
All three have yet to confirm their playing rosters, with Hutt Valley monitoring pitcher Sheree Cartwright, who has strained ankle ligaments, while Canterbury are keeping an eye on infielder Lisa Kersten, who is overcoming a knee injury.
Auckland appear to have the least injury worries, with a handful of players nursing niggling injuries but expected to play.
Hutt Valley go into finals weekend as the top-ranked side.
They had only one loss during round robin play, against Canterbury in the opening weekend of the league in January.
Hutt Valley coach Naomi Shaw is preparing to play without Cartwright.
She is confident her side have the hitting strength required to win the title but she is looking for improvements in the team's defensive play.
"We have done some lazy things in the field [during the round robin] and we need to sort that out and play to our potential."
- NZPA
