The tournament resumes in Auckland today. The Southern men play Auckland, and the women have drawn North Harbour.
The men have pinned their hopes on making the top four this season, while the women have set a more modest goal of reaching the playoff for fifth.
Men's coach Dave Ross hopes his side can build on its impressive 4-3 win against Capital in Dunedin last weekend but is aware of the challenge Auckland presents.
"We'll need to be very accurate to roll them," Ross said.
"They're a very good side."
When Southern was at its best, it could breach most defences Ross said but his side was guilty of "soft turnovers" and needed to improve its defensive pattern when defending penalty corners.
Goalie Leon Hayward has recovered from a shoulder injury, which is a relief for Southern, because he was outstanding against Capital.
Defender and drag flick specialist Kane Russell was also impressive.
The Black Sticks squad member scored two goals in the win against Capital. The second was from a lovely run down the right hand side of the field and the earlier goal was from a devastating drag flick.
His ability to convert from penalty corners is a real weapon for Southern.
The ball sailed through the air so quickly, it had some of the crowd gasping.
"It is not just about the flick, though. There are a whole range of things which have to go right. The ball has to arrive at speed to give Kane enough time to actually drag it in. But if we get it right, we expect to score off that.""But the thing with this competition, there are probably seven out of the eight teams capable of beating each other on their day. It is a very, very tight competition, which is what makes it so exciting."
Women's coach Sam Brown said his side was targeting specific games which meant keeping some the key players fresh for the crucial encounters.
The women play North Harbour today but their focus is on Northland and Central games later in the week.
"When we hit those two target teams, we want to be firing on all cylinders and there is no doubt that we don't want to have our key players tired or anything like that.
So, through the week, we will be quite careful whom we rest and when we rest them. There is a plan and, hopefully, it will all unfold nicely."
The women have been focusing on making more of their goal-scoring opportunities.
The execution in the circle in the opening two games was not as clinical as the side would have hoped for.
Eloise Watson broke a bone in her hand in the opening match against Canterbury and has been replaced in the squad by striker Charlotte Henley.
Courtney Ross has recovered from a bruised leg and has taken her place in the squad.
