In many ways, the Southern Steel has nothing to lose in its sudden-death playoff match against the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic in Auckland tonight.
Steel coach Robyn Broughton would never say so publicly, but secretly she must have had her doubts her side could repeat its effort last season and reach the ANZ Championship semifinals.
And early form did not suggest otherwise.
Midway through the tournament the Steel's prospects hung by the thinnest of threads.
Without the likes of Adine Wilson, Donna Wilkins and Megan Hutton, the Steel appeared to lack the personnel to compete with the stronger sides.
But Broughton is a master at squeezing every drop of talent from her charges and, against the odds, the Steel won four games in a row to reach the playoffs, including an impressive 52-47 win against the Magic and a convincing 52-39 win against the Melbourne Vixens.
Having taken her side this far, Broughton believes the Steel can go on and book a place in the preliminary final against the New South Wales Swifts in Sydney on July 4 or July 5.
"Everybody has contributed hugely this year and I've been really pleased with everybody," Broughton said.
"It's been a real team effort.
So I would be disappointed for them [if they lost].
They can take this next step and they need to be confident and sure of themselves."
While the Steel has perhaps exceeded its expectations, the Magic has been pedestrian at times this season.
It has struggled to maintain intensity and string quality performances together.
Ominously, though, it completed the round-robin phase with an impressive showing against the Adelaide Thunderbirds, whereas the Steel slumped to a 17-goal defeat to the New South Wales Swifts in Sydney.
The debrief of that loss was short and to the point.
"We didn't play well against them but we have to move on to the next game," Broughton explained.
The Steel drifted from the game plan - so expect the team to return to the no-thrills, no-spills patient netball which has served the team so well.
"We should be releasing the ball when the pass is there. But if it's not ready to be thrown then we have to attack again and again until it is there. You don't just throw the ball around for the sake of it.
"Sometimes we've been a bit too quick and then we've become hesitant because we've made mistakes."
The Steel and the Magic have shared the honours with a win apiece this year, but the Steel will take heart from its last outing against the Magic in round 10.
It nullified the threat of leading defender Casey Williams and reduced shooter Irene van Dyk's effectiveness, cutting off her supply of ball.
It offers a blueprint for success but Broughton believes the Magic will adjust its game plan in response.
Williams played at goal defence in that game and was not able to impose herself on the match.
And the Steel's defensive trio of Erika Burgess, Te Huinga Reo Selby-Rickit and Leana de Bruin did a fabulous job blocking the ball from getting to van Dyk.
Former Silver Fern Jodi Brown is adept at feeding van Dyk but had to contend with stifling defence.
"It will be whole different game if she [Williams] is back at goal keeper. I think that is her position really. And we did a good job on Jodi Brown last time. She'll remember that and no doubt she'll fix that up."
Silver Ferns Laura Langman is the other key figure in the Magic line-up.
Her work rate provides a crucial link for the Magic and her battle with Liana Barrett-Chase and Wendy Frew shapes as a highlight.
A shellshocked NSW Swifts crashed to an unexpected 52-38 defeat to the Adelaide Thunderbirds yesterday, NZPA reports.
The Swifts' historic 13-match unbeaten streak ended in spectacular fashion at Acer Arena as the second-seeded Thunderbirds inflicted a near-record hiding.
Pummelled 17-8 in second stanza, the Swifts' 18-31 deficit at the main break was never likely to be overhauled.
Adelaide Thunderbirds 52 (Carla Borrego 37/43, Erin Bell 12/15, Kate Beveridge 2/2, Jasmine Keene 1/1) NSW Swifts 38 (Catherine Cox 9/15, Susan Pratley 22/31, Amorette Wild 7/8).
Halftime: 31-18.
