In its two games yesterday, New Zealand produced its best form to beat Australia 8-7 and lose narrowly to defending champion China 6-7 on the extra end at the Naseby International Curling Rink.
The team of Catherine Inder, Marisa Jones, Brydie Donald and Bridget Becker is lying fourth on the championship table with two wins behind China (6 wins), Japan (5), Korea (3) and Australia (0).
To have a chance of making the play-offs, New Zealand must beat Korea this morning and Japan in the afternoon game.
New Zealand's chances would be helped if Australia beat Korea in its final game.
New Zealand looked down and out when Australia led 5-0 after six of the 10 ends.
But the scoreboard shocked the New Zealand women's team into action and it played its best curling of the championships when it came back to score seven shots on the next four ends to draw level at 7-7 and force the extra end.
Led by skip Bridget Becker, the New Zealand four played consistently to get a three on the seventh end and another three on the ninth and one on the 10th.
It won the game with a single on the extra end.
New Zealand again started slowly against China and dropped a three on the second end and trailed 4-2 after four ends.
New Zealand drew level with a two on the fifth end, but China then edged away with singles on the sixth and eighth ends.
But just when New Zealand seemed down and out it scored a two on the penultimate end to draw level at 6-6.
It was only the tactical skill of Chinese skip Wang Bingyu that enabled China to clinch the game on the final end.
The New Zealand men's team shares top spot with China and Korea in the men's competition with six wins.
Consistent play by the New Zealand team of Warren Dobson, Rupert Jones, Scott Becker and Sean Becker led to a 7-2 win against Australia.
The key game for New Zealand today is against Korea. A win would keep New Zealand in equal top position. It is expected to beat Chinese Taipei in its other game.
In the other key game, China beat Korea 10-4.
