Lightning fired up for bolt into top four
SUNSHINE Coast coach Noeline Taurua says today’s must- win Suncorp Super Netball clash with the NSW Swifts amounts to a virtual grand final.
The reigning champions are in fifth place heading into the second last round of the regular season with five teams trying to cram into the four finals spots.
Lightning are on the same number of competition points as the fourth- placed Firebirds and are just one point behind the third- placed Vixens.
The equation is simple for the Lightning. Keep winning and keep winning well with bonus points set to prove the difference between sides.
The team smashed Adelaide last weekend to collect the maximum eight points from the trip to South Australia.
Two- time championship- winning coach Taurua knows what finals netball is all about and says it has come early for her side that is still in the hunt thanks to a competition- high 29 bonus points.
“Every game from here on in is a grand final for us. I’m happy with what we’ve been done over the past few weeks and we need to keep it going,’’ she said.
“We just can’t afford to lose. Every quarter is just so critical.
“We’ve been building nicely over the past month so morale and team spirit is high but we have to have a fighting mentality and do the work out there.’’
Taurua is wary of the Swifts who are out of the running for finals netball but are capable of springing an upset.
“The Swifts have nothing to lose. They can go out there with the freedom to express themselves,’’ she said.
The Firebirds play the last- placed Adelaide tomorrow and the second- last Collingwood in the final round and Taurua believes Queensland should qualify for the finals, leaving the Lightning and Vixens in a shootout for the last berth.