Steely determination: Team confident before final

As the Southern Steel pack their bags for the final game of the season there is a quiet confidence they can topple their rivals the Central Pulse.

The Steel booked a last minute place in tomorrow’s national netball premiership grand final when they beat the Mainland Tactix 53-49 in the elimination final in Invercargill on Wednesday night.

They will face the Central Pulse in Palmerston North in a rematch of last year’s decider.

Steel captain Wendy Frew said the team was really excited heading into their final game.

The team have had a couple of days to prepare and had a good look at the pulse yesterday together, Frew said.

Te Paea Selby-Rickit said there were no special routines ahead of the game or good luck charms, it was just a case of preparation and sticking to their processes.

It would be a bit different playing at 4pm tomorrow as most of their games have been at 7.15 pm, Selby-Rickit said.

The team would just make all the necessary changes and do things a bit earlier than usual, she said.

Abby Erwood said there was quite a wee group of the players’ families travelling to Palmerston North for the final.

‘‘It’s good to bring some family along and have the home support up there.’’

Former Southland Netball player Aliyah Dunn, who had played in the South Beko Netball League team and acted as injury cover for the Southern Steel was line up for the pulse in the final game.

Frew said it was all part of the game coming up against your mates.

Players knew it was business time when they hit the court, she said.

Frew thinks they will come out on top if they can deliver the goods.

‘‘It’s going to be an extremely tough game and we’re going to have to put in a good 60-minute performance to do that.’’

The reality of her final game had not sunk in yet, Frew said.

There were a few surprises in her final home game, one being Invercargill Mayor Tim Shadbolt presenting her with a key to the city, she said.

However, the focus was now on tomorrow’s game, Frew said.

‘‘I’m just really excited about the opportunity to play in another final.’’

When she takes to the court tomorrow, she expects there will be a few emotions, but that’s something she will need to keep in check and stay humble, Frew said.

‘‘If you get too caught up in the emotion of it all then you probably don’t make good decisions out there.’’

ROBYN EDIE/STUFF Southern Steel netball players Courtney Elliott, Te Paea Selby-Rickit, captain and the retiring Wendy Frew, Abby Erwood and Drogo the dog, packing for Palmerston North to play in tomorrow’s ANZ Championship final game against Central Pulse.