Steel coach Janine Southby would love the opening three weeks of the competition back.
Her side made a ponderous beginning, losing its first three games. From there on, it was always going to be tough for the Steel to make the playoffs.
The round six loss to the Mystics, and the 62-54 defeat to the Pulse the following week, effectively finished off the Steel's prospects. It has been playing for pride and to win back a few fans ever since.
But with the pressure of playoff netball removed, the Steel has hit top form.
It has won three of its past four games. The most impressive of those wins was the 62-57 victory against the Magic. The Steel came back from 10 goals down and showed the sort of form worthy of a semifinal berth.
While Southby is delighted her side is finally realising its potential, she is also a little frustrated it has taken so long.
''I was really pleased with the effort in the last quarter of the Magic game. They probably played some of their best netball,'' she said.
''I guess it is frustrating. You can look back and say if only, if only. But that is the reality for us. We have to learn from it and move on.
''I think the loss that really hurt us was the Mystics loss in Invercargill.''
It may not have proved so crucial had the Steel made a better beginning. Illness and a disrupted build-up meant the Steel went into the campaign on the back foot.
''I think it did [cost us]. I think we were underdone.
''It was one of those things. We just didn't have the best pre-season. The squad was really only together for the last two weeks prior to the first game ... which does put pressure on you.
''At that stage, I thought the connections they built last year would return a lot quicker but they didn't. From my perspective, that is a real learning. We can't afford to be in that situation going forward again.
''The year before, we started well but petered out. This year we have built, but we've built too late.
''It is about getting that balance between getting ready for the start of the season and still growing with every game. We certainly haven't got that right this year.''
Southby is keen to return for another stint next season and is in negotiations with the franchise, possibly to take on extra responsibilities in a high-performance role.
Southby was, well, defensive when it came to her defensive unit. The Steel has the second-worst defensive record in the tournament but Southby felt that end of the court had been unfairly targeted in the media for criticism.
''Defenders take a longer time to mature. And if you look at it, they are up against international opposition just about every week.
''If you look at the best defensive combinations in the competition, you have to look at Magic and the Vixens and those combinations have had years and years together.
''I know it is really easy to pick on them [the defenders] and I certainly think they have been unfairly singled out at times. But I also think they have been resilient and now starting to produce some good stuff for us.''
The Steel hosts the Tactix in Dunedin tomorrow and will start as the favourite after a 77-61 win in round eight.
The Steel has won 10 of the 13 games between the teams and should be too strong. But Southby said the Tactix deserved respect.
''I think people have been underestimating the Tactix.
''We've had a good look at what they've done since we last played them and the numbers that they are showing have improved.
''They are taking a lot more care with the ball and have a great shooter in Mwai [Kumwenda] who has certainly grown over the season.''
ANZ Championship: Steel v Tactix
Where: Dunedin.
When: Tomorrow, 7.20pm.
Steel: Jhaniele Fowler-Reid, Jodi Brown (captain), Shannon Francois, Phillipa Finch, Wendy Frew, Rachel Rasmussen, Phoenix Karaka, Storm Purvis, Erena Mikaere, Stacey Peeters, Te Paea Selby-Rickit, Gina Crampton.
Tactix: Jade Clarke Sophia Fenwick, Keshia Grant, Mwai Kumwenda, Nicola Mackle, Julianna Naoupu, Hayley Saunders, Louise Thayer, Anna Thompson, Zoe Walker, Jane Watson.
