Mystics out to make most of extra lifeline

The Central Pulse and Northern Mystics are going into battle for the fourth time this year, only this time the stakes are bigger.

Win and you’re in the inaugural final of the ANZ Premiership against the Southern Steel in Invercargill this week. Lose and it’s season over.

After the Magic fell short of the 15-goal win they needed, the Mystics made today’s elimination final against the Pulse in Wellington.

“It’s a huge relief. We have another life and now we need to prove what we can do, bring it all together and put out a good performance,” Mystics captain Anna Harrison said.

Harrison warned the Pulse should be preparing for different combinations in the defensive end. Depending on the combinations, the Pulse could expect to see Harrison, Storm Purvis, Michaela SokolichBeatson and Brooke Watt on court.

”It’s a beauty for us to be able to play different positions, but also for the team. The opposition needs to prepare for two or three possible combinations,” she said.

But the Mystics aren’t the only team happy with the mix in their side.

Pulse captain Katrina Grant said: “We’ve worked really hard to get where we are and this season definitely feels different to the ones in the past. It hasn’t been perfect but a lot has clicked into place. There’s a mix of young and experienced players where both are able to feed off the other.”

Despite both teams coming off a loss, Grant is expecting the Mystics to be fired up.

“The Mystics will be firing, they’ll be wanting to prove a point . . . who and what they’re really made of. We just have to stop them in their tracks, just play our game and do what we know how to do well. That’s playing with flair and freedom,” she said.

● The elimination final starts at 2pm.