After a disappointing campaign last year, the team is rebuilding and cannot afford to look too far ahead.
But a quick glance at the standings reveals how crucial tonight's match against the Swifts in Invercargill will be for the Steel.
Both sides need a win to stay in reach of the playoffs. The Swifts are perhaps more desperate. The Sydney-based franchise has lost its last four games and is probably one defeat away from waving goodbye to the semifinals.
The Steel is fresh from a confidence-boosting win against the Mystics and will be looking to build some momentum. The team has two wins from five games and is perhaps one complete performance away from really starting to click.
At least, that is how Steel coach Janine Southby views it. The team has been good in patches but has yet to play well for all 60 minutes.
''We're edging closer to it,'' Southby said.
''We were a little bit sloppy at the start last week and we got quite a few turnovers but didn't capitalise.''
Southby said the team had been working hard at training on ''making that transition from defence to attack and getting the ball cleanly through court'' so it can convert more turnover opportunities.
Southby wondered whether the sluggish start could be put down to the bye it had in round five.
The Swifts had a bye last week but history suggests they will cope well. They have won three of their four matches following a bye.
They have also had the better of the match-up over the years, winning four of the five games between the teams, including the past three games. The Steel's only win against the Swifts was in Invercargill in 2009.
Form, though, is with the Steel. The Swifts were hammered by the Fever 71-51 in their last match and have struggled to amass goals at the same rate as some of the other teams.
Steel shooter Jhaniele Fowler (250) has scored more goals than the Swifts (243) this season, so the visitors will have to work overtime to stop the Steel getting the ball to the 1.98m Jamaican international.
Easier said than done, with Steel captain Jodi Brown adapting her game to a pass-first, shoot-second goal attack. Her combination with Fowler will be key a factor in deciding the outcome.
The Steel's defensive end, anchored by Rachel Rasmussen, has improved and Phillipa Finch has been a linchpin in the centre for the Steel.
The Steel lost 10 consecutive games in 2012 and narrowly avoided last place. But the arrival of Fowler and the improvements made on defence have seen the team's stocks rise ever so slightly.
''We've got a few new combinations and they have taken a while to get established. The players have been working really hard to fast-track that.''
While the Swifts have struggled, Southby believes they will present as tough opponents.
''They've actually got quite a fast line-up ... and they have got rangy circle defender [Sonia] Mkoloma. She's got long arms and has the capability ... to almost match Jhaniele. And they are pretty physical so we know we're going to really have to stand up against that.
''At times, last week, when the Mystics roughed us up a bit, we didn't cope that well.''
ANZ Championship
Steel v Swifts
Where: Invercargill.
When: Tonight, 7.40pm.
Record: Played 5; Steel 1, Swifts 4.
