The Southern Steel may yet be able to solve the Central Pulse's final hosting problem.
It was reported by Stuff on Monday that for the second consecutive year its primary home venue - Wellington's TSB Arena - is booked out on the day of the ANZ Premiership final.
However, while last year it shifted the match to Palmerston North, the Fly Palmy Arena is also booked out on June 2, as is Porirua's Te Rauparaha Arena.
The arenas will play host to an art expo, a ballroom dancing event and a Lego fan convention instead.
It is a tricky situation for the table-topping Pulse, which was unbeaten until Monday night's loss to the Steel.
Netball New Zealand is working with the franchise on a solution.
The Steel could yet provide that solution, although it is one the Pulse would rather avoid.
Monday's result leaves the southern franchise with a possibility of sneaking a home final.
Had the Pulse won it could have wrapped up top spot, a direct path to the final and the hosting rights.
However, the Steel win leaves it on 32 points - four behind the Pulse. If the Steel wins its final two games and the Pulse its last two, the Steel can leapfrog it into top spot.
For the Steel, beating the Mainland Tactix and stuttering Northern Stars is a very real possibility.
It is difficult to see the Stars and Northern Mystics both beating the Pulse, although it remains a chance.
At the very least, the Steel has secured a home elimination final, against the Northern Stars, on Wednesday, May 29.
If the Steel and Pulse meet in the final it will be the third year they have done so.
In 2017, Invercargill hosted an emphatic Steel victory, while last year the Steel nabbed a thrilling win in the dying seconds.
