Consistency main aim for Steel moving towards playoff series

SHANNON Francois knows tonight’s game is a big one.

In fact, she knows every game through to the end of the season is a big one for the Southern Steel.

It has four roundrobin games left and on 16 points, has a fourpoint buffer on the fourthplaced Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic.

A win against the Magic tonight would extend that to six. A loss would reduce it to two.

While a positive outcome would not necessarily guarantee the Steel a spot in the top three, it would go a long way towards getting there.

Even more than that, Francois said it was a case of building so if the team does make the playoffs, it can perform once it gets there.

‘‘I think every game at the moment has a massive influence for confidence and also consistency,’’ the Steel centre said.

‘‘We need to start building towards that finals series, so we can only do that with winning

each week and learning from that — that’s our goal.’’

The Magic poses a tough challenge, although it is coming off a surprise loss to the Northern Stars.

It boasts arguably the compe tition’s best goal shoot in Lenize Potgieter, who forms a strong shooting pairing with Monica Falkner.

That will pose a challenge for the Steel and Francois said the side would need to operate

well defensively.

Its performance last Monday against the Central Pulse leaves it confident it can do that.

Having lost by 31 goals last time the two sides met, the Steel reversed the result in an impressive 5147 win.

It was the biggest indicator yet that this Steel team is capable of claiming the title.

Francois said the most importantly it gave the Steel the belief it could beat the Pulse, something it will probably need to do if it is to retain its crown.

However, she felt it was still not quite the consistent 60minute performance the side was looking for.

Achieving that would be its goal.

‘‘I think our defensive pressure was really good, but I still think on attack we chucked some silly balls away and there were a few personal errors that crept in.

‘‘So I think we just tidy up those few things and we can hopefully take off and beat teams by a few more rather than keep having close games.’’

Magic defender Casey Kopua missed the game last Wednesday because of a leg injury and it is unclear whether she will front tonight.

A The Stars beat the Mystics 5855 in Auckland yesterday. The teams are level on 11 points but the Stars have the better points differential, which drops the Mystics drop to sixth and last in the competition.

We need to start building towards that finals series, so we can only do that with winning each week and learning from that — that’s our goal