We know now what we thought we knew three days ago - Auckland, Otago, Christchurch and Hamilton will contest the semifinals of the national championships being staged in Dunedin.
Auckland has not won the title since 2009 and will play the defending champion, Otago, in one semifinal, with Christchurch and Hamilton meeting in the other.
The home team will have to be at its best to keep its title defence alive. Auckland boasts an all-star cast featuring Steel defensive duo Rachel Rasmussen and Phoenix Karaka, with former Silver Fern Paula Griffin carrying the scoring responsibilities.
It secured top billing in pool B and maintained its unblemished record with a comfortable 55-41 win against Southland in the morning and a 78-32 demolition of the Invitational side later in the day.
Christchurch also kept its perfect record intact with a 60-40 win against Counties Manukau and a 60-47 win against Wellington in the late game.
It topped pool A and will play Hamilton in the other semifinal after the Waikato side secured its spot with a 67-38 win against Waitakere and a 56-33 win against Southland.
Otago beat Otago B 75-43 in the morning and returned to beat Counties Manukau 59-40 in the late game to clinch its spot.
Counties Manukau stuck with Otago for most of the opening 30 minutes. But Otago made a big move at the beginning of the third quarter, scoring the first eight goals to stretch its lead to 42-19.
Otago has had some bad luck before and during the tournament which has reduced its squad from 12 to 10 players.
It lost captain Shannon Francois to the Silver Ferns days before the tournament got under way and injuries to Olivia Bates and Harriet Arbuckle (the replacement player for Francois) have cut down the side's options.
Arbuckle was in the queue for surgery yesterday. She tore her Achilles in the 66-52 loss to Christchurch on Tuesday night. Bates fractured a bone in her foot.
Under the tournament rules, Otago cannot call in a player from Otago B but can request a player from the Invitational side as long as it is not new Steel recruit Erena Mikaere, as she is registered with Bay of Plenty centre Harbourside.
''Nobody is coming in,'' Otago coach Lauren Piebenga said.
''We're just hoping that we are not going to have any more bad luck. Things happen in threes; we've had our three. We're done.''
However, Piebenga felt not being able to call a player in from a B team might make centres think twice about entering two teams in future tournaments.
''That's the rules. It is not necessarily an incentive to put a B team in. It is hard for the girls in the B team who would be worthy of an opportunity given we have got an opening there.''
As for whether her side could beat Auckland and progress to tomorrow's final, she was cautiously optimistic.
''They're a classy outfit and have a lot of experience in their team and we've got nothing to lose.
''If we can make good connections between our players then we'll be right in the game.''
National championships
Today's games
11.30am: Counties Manukau v Invitational (9th-12th)
1.30pm: Wellington v Southland (5th-8th); Manawatu v Otago B (9th-12th)
3.30pm: Auckland v Otago (semifinal); Waitakere v North Harbour (5th-8th)
5.30pm: Christchurch v Hamilton (semifinal)
