Steel coach Robyn Broughton believes the Melbourne Vixens will be a much tougher opponent if centre Natasha Chokljat takes the court in the crucial round 11 match at the Edgar Centre tomorrow night.
The skilful midcourter has been sidelined with a calf injury since round five of the ANZ Championship and the reigning champions have not looked their dominant selves since.
The Vixens' renowned speed through the midcourt has been noticeably absent. With classy defender Julie Corletto also sidelined with a knee injury and shooter Caitlin Thwaites struggling with her fitness, the Vixens have lost their last four consecutive matches.
But Chokljat, who injured her calf in training and aggravated it in the 62-51 win against the Northern Mystics, is expected to return for a game both teams are desperate to win.
"That's just our luck," Steel coach Robyn Broughton lamented.
"She makes such a big difference to them and combines really well with [Sharelle] McMahon. Chokljat is so experienced and so clever in the centre," Broughton said, adding Chokljat's pace and ability to link with her shooters was a real assist for the visitors.
Broughton's team is just starting to hit its straps while the Vixens have fallen away.
"We've got the man-power and we know we've got a good game plan. But those Australian teams want it badly and the Vixens will be hurting because they've lost the last four.
"They have had some ups and downs. Sometimes the team gets better because of it and other times they don't."
The Steel surprised with a stunning 52-47 win against the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic in Invercargill on Monday.
Several players had their best outing this season, including captain Megan Dehn and fellow shooter Daneka Wipiiti.
Both have looked tentative at times and Wipiiti has struggled to regain her fitness since giving birth to her first child late last year.
"Megan put up more shots . . . and I've been trying to get her [Wipiiti] to move more and she came out of the circle and did quite a good job in that respect."
Goal keep Leana de Bruin has been consistently good and goal defender Te Huinga Reo Selby-Rickit has improved each week. The pair played a vital role in the Steel's five-goal win against the Magic.
Broughton has tapped de Bruin on the shoulder this week and asked for another big effort.
"I've seen her play against Caitlin Thwaites before for the Magic and she has gone well. I think it is an area where we have to look to put pressure on them."
The other key battleground will be in the midcourt, with Steel trio Liana Barrett-Chase, Wendy Frew and Erika Burgess intent on slowing down the Vixens' supply of ball and controlling the tempo.
The teams have met twice, with the Steel winning 47-46 in Invercargill two years ago and the Vixens doing so in last year's fixture, 48-31, in Melbourne.
STEEL v VIXENS
Venue: Edgar Centre, Dunedin
Time: Tomorrow, 6.50pm
Previous Matches
- 2009: Melbourne, 48-31 Vixens
- 2008: Invercargill, 47-46 Steel
