Northern Mystics were pushed hard by Southern Steel before emerging with a 49-45 win from their seventh round trans-Tasman netball league match in Dunedin on Sunday.
Last year's beaten finalists looked on track for a comfortable win, but a gritty effort from the Steel pushed them right to the final whistle.
Pounded 56-43 last week by Queensland Firebirds, the Mystics looked more switched on at the Lion Foundation Arena, controlling the opening quarter to lead 15-10 at the break.
Silver Ferns defender Anna Harrison was in particularly devastating form, showing superb anticipation to rake in a series of stunning intercepts in the first 15 minutes.
Her combination with youngster Kayla Cullen at goal defence, and wing defence Charlotte Knight, kept Steel shooters Jodi Brown and Donna Wilkins under wraps for much of the first half.
The Mystics' strong midcourt defensive effort continued into the second stanza, the Steel forced wide into a cross-court passing game which set some tempting intercepts for the Aucklanders' fleet-footed defence.
Ahead 28-21 at halftime, the Mystics just couldn't shake off a dogged Steel outfit in the third quarter.
Goal shoot Cathrine Latu continued her battle with Steel goal keep Demelza McCloud, the imperturbable Latu shooting another 100 percent game despite huge pressure from the long-reaching Australian import.
In tandem with veteran goal defence Sheryl Scanlan, and boosted by the introduction of young wing defender Louise Thayer, McCloud helped spark a mini-revival as the Steel found real rhythm and timing in moving the ball through court at pace.
Despite a 39-32 lead at the three-quarter mark, Mystics coach Debbie Fuller benched Maria Tutaia for the final 15 minutes, with the Silver Ferns' goal attack shooting at a less-than-impressive 68 percent.
Grace Rasmussen fared little better in the shooting stakes, but introduced extra pace in the midcourt and speed on the feed to free up the always-accurate Latu as the Mystics held on for the win.
