The bad news is, up until now, Otago has not been playing well enough to take full advantage.
That must change if the province hopes to make it into the top four of the national championships. Otago stumbled to a 50-45 loss to Southland in its opening match and followed that disappointing performance with a shocker against Wellington, losing 67-49.
Auckland-Waitakere is also in a pickle, having lost both its opening games. That makes today's match at the Edgar Centre crucial for both teams.
The visiting side will have to get by without the services of shooter Cathrine Latu and defenders Kayla Cullen and Sulu Tone-Fitzpatrick. The Silver Ferns trio are being wrapped in cotton wool ahead of the series against England early next month.
Otago, on the other hand, is at full strength and it is time the team showed its potential, speedy midcourter Shannon Francois says.
"Last week was really unfortunate. There was just lots of individual errors," she said.
"I don't think we've clicked together as a team yet. We've been untidy and we're not connecting well. But the good thing is making that top four is still very achievable."
Time is running out, though.
The Steel shooting combination of Te Paea Selby-Rickit and Jodi Brown was billed as one of the strongest in the tournament, but the new combination has not dominated the way Otago would have liked.
Defensively, Otago does not have as many options as some of the other teams but has a key player in Steel defender Louise Thayer.
The midcourt should be an area where Otago can assert some pressure with players such as Francois and Gina Crampton, who are both members of the New Zealand under-21 team.
Otago has played well in patches but has not been able to maintain pressure on its opponents.
"We've been talking about consistency and playing a 60-minute game because we've been very up and down," Francois acknowledged.
"It is crucial we get it right this week. It is our last chance."
The 20-year-old pharmacy student moved from Motueka to Dunedin three years ago to attend the University of Otago.
Last year, she made the New Zealand under-21 squad and has been in the Otago team for two years.
A multi-talented sportswoman, she also represented New Zealand in touch and was a talented athlete, competing in the long jump and 4x100m relay and 4x400m relay at the Australian Youth Olympic Festival.
Her greatest ambitions, though, rest with netball. She would like to play in the ANZ Championship in the next "year or two" and "hopefully" make the New Zealand accelerant squad, which is one step down from the national squad.
They are lofty goals but Francois seems on the right course. Steel co-coach Janine Southby, who coached Francois in the New Zealand under-21 team, has been in touch to see what the young player has planned for next year.
It is a good sign for Francois.
However, the form of Otago and Southland in the national championship will be of concern to the Steel franchise, which had hoped to fill out the final three or four places on the roster with local talent.
Better results this week might help.
Otago v Auckland
Edgar Centre, noon today
Otago: Jodi Brown, Te Paea Selby-Rickit, Kate Shearer, Gina Crampton, Shannon Francois, Jaimee Power, Miaana Walden, Louise Thayer, Greir Campbell, Sam Stewart, Kat Dimitrievska.
