Otago coach Georgie Salter has been saying it is a must-win match for the past three weeks and repeated herself again yesterday.
Handball got a foothold in New Zealand five years ago and spilled over into Dunedin at the weekend.
Otago goal keep Louise Thayer's commanding performance has helped keep her province's semifinal prospects alive.
Former Silver Ferns captain Anna Stanley (nee Rowberry) had some highs during her distinguished netball career, but one of her greatest memories was playing in the Otago national provincial championship team in 1998.
Win against Western tonight and Otago will keep its title prospects alive - lose, and it will set up camp in the relegation zone.
The first question people usually ask former All White striker Steve Wooddin is why was goal keeper Richard Wilson dropped for Frank van Hattum.
After nine weeks in Beijing with the New Zealand Olympic and Paralympic teams, Raylene Bates is still adjusting to life back in Dunedin.
The 10 National Basketball League franchises will take control of the competition next year but the Otago Nuggets' future remains uncertain, Basketball Otago chief executive Mark Rogers says.
After kicking truck tyres and sandbags to harden his shins, Erik Nosa is ready for the fight of his life.
There was little fanfare when Steel defender Katrina Grant learned she would be fulfilling a dream and making her international debut in Auckland on Saturday night.
Otago put on a late spurt to rescue a valuable bonus point from its 45-50 loss to Southland at Stadium Southland yesterday.
Dubbed the "oarsome foursome", the 2007 world championship crew of Hamish Bond, Carl Meyer, Eric Murray and James Dallinger have probably rowed their last race together, Bond said yesterday.
There is more than just provincial bragging rights at stake when Otago plays Southland in the local derby in Invercargill today.
The Sting is back. Eight members of the champion 2007 Sting side, including star players Donna Wilkins and Adine Wilson, will be lining up for the Southern Steel in the ANZ Championship next year.
Both the Southern Men and the Southern Storm got a large dose of reality at the National Hockey League tournament in Auckland yesterday.
Her head should be buried in textbooks but her heart is with hockey.
The last thing the Southern Men need is for three of their most talented players to uproot and move to another team next year.
Expanding the University Oval is critical to the future of the test venue, Otago Cricket Association chief executive Ross Dykes said at the body's annual meeting last night.
The future of the Otago Nuggets remains in the balance, Basketball Otago chief executive Mark Rogers said yesterday.
Ben Mackay started playing basketball as "little fella", but cracked the big time this month when he was named in the New Zealand under-17 Koru team.
