Back-to-back losses at home to Auckland and Southland left Otago needing to win its remaining three round-robin games to reach the top four.
With the attack end faltering and a lack of options at wing attack, Otago's prospects looked bleak.
But it is amazing what a win does for a team's confidence.
With former Silver Ferns shooters Jo Morrison and Jodi Brown finding their rhythm, Otago was able to dispatch Western 59-48 in Palmerston North last weekend and keep its title chances alive.
The defence end led by goal keep Louise Thayer impressed and the midcourt has also made strides.
"They actually played really well, which was great to see because we'd come off a very good training week," Jones said.
"The things that we had been practising they put into place, so that was pleasing."
The attack end looked to be a strength for Otago at the beginning of the campaign but it has taken some time for Morrison and Brown to gel.
Brown was hampered by a thigh strain and Morrison had not played top-level netball for the past three years.
Not having a specialist wing attack in the side did not help, either, but those problems and deficiencies melted away last weekend, Jones said.
"Our timing together as a team and our linking from the defence end to the attack end improved. "It was always going to take some time for our team to get there. We don't doubt ourselves. If we make the top four we'll be in that final."
To achieve that, Otago must first defeat North in Auckland today.
North drew with a powerful Auckland line-up in round two but was well beaten, 62-42, by Canterbury in round one and lost to Southland 45-39 last weekend.
Both teams need to win to stay in the running.
North has experienced players in key positions; former Silver Fern Vilimaina Davu leading the defence, capable shooter Brigette Tapene slotting goals and Mystic player Finau Pulu marshalling the midcourt.
Otago practice did not go as smoothly as it could have this week, with Thayer (foot), Emma Moynihan (thigh) and Kate Shearer (ankle) all taking less than a full part in training.
However, Jones expects to have a full squad available and said despite the setbacks, the team continued to improve.
"Every training, we just seem to pick up and every game, we seem to be improving. As long as we can keep that happening, I'm sure we can pull off a win this weekend."
Meanwhile, the ANZ Championship draw for 2010 has been released.
The Steel opens its campaign against the Fever in Invercargill on March 21 and will play two fixtures in Dunedin: against the Pulse on April 5 and the Vixens on May 30.
ANZ Championship
Steel fixtures for 2010
• March 21, v Fever, Invercargill
• March 29, v Magic, Rotorua
• April 5, v Pulse, Dunedin
• April 11, v Thunderbirds, Adelaide
• April 19, v Firebirds, Invercargill
• April 26, v Pulse, Wellington
• May 1, v Tactix, Christchurch
• May 10, v Mystics, Invercargill
• May 24, v Magic, Invercargill
• May 30, v Vixens, Dunedin
• June 7, v Tactix, Invercargill
• June 14, v Mystics, Auckland
• June 21, v Swifts, Sydney
• Bye in round nine.
