THE dust from Round 13 of Suncorp Super Netball (SSN) action has barely settled, and seven of the eight teams are raring to go again in the final round of the home and away season. While Collingwood Magpies’ season officially came to a close on Tuesday night, and the remainder of the bottom four in Queensland Firebirds, Adelaide Thunderbirds and Melbourne Vixens are no longer in with a chance to make finals, the top four order and final positions are still in question with all four finals-bound teams still in with a chance to take out the minor premiership.

NSW Swifts vs. Adelaide Thunderbirds
Wednesday, August 4 @3:30pm

The only team that is set to play twice this round, the NSW Swifts will want to first assert themselves on the contest, but also ensure they keep something in the tank with another big clash to come later in the week. That being said, they cannot underestimate a confident-looking Thunderbirds outfit, which has dealt some real upsets over the past few rounds with teams underestimating their ability to impact the contest. Expect plenty of intensity to be on show as the Thunderbirds look to force errors and shake the Swifts to finish their season on a high.

There are a number of fascinating matchups in this clash with the most significant one coming in one end of the goal circle with Shamera Sterling taking on Sam Wallace. While both players have been in scintillating form over the last few weeks, both have also had moments of shakiness meaning there is plenty in this individual match up, especially given this will be Sterling’s last outing for the season. Matilda Garrett and Helen Housby will go head to head while there is plenty of intrigue about who will take the court in wing attack and wing defence for their respective sides with both teams shaking up their line-ups depending on who they play. 

Paige Hadley and Maddy Proud are likely to be the major feeders for the Swifts in wing attack and centre respectively, while at the other end, it is safe to say that Maisie Nankivell will earn a starting position for the Thunderbirds alongside captain Hannah Petty. Swifts’ Sarah Klau and Maddy Turner have been in excellent form but will be taking on a fired up Thunderbirds front end in Georgie Horjus and Lenize Potgieter, with the duo coming in off an influential performance on Monday night so sure to be fighting the whole way. Expect both sides to make ample use of their benches with both the Swifts and Thunderbirds unafraid to ring in the changes when required, with livewires such as Sophie Garbin and Latanya Wilson able to have a real impact.

Melbourne Vixens vs. Queensland Firebirds
Wednesday, August 4 @6:30pm

The Vixens may have already earned the wooden spoon for the season, but they have surely not forgotten that one of their two wins this year came against the Firebirds, so could be in with a chance here especially given the Firebirds will be without Tara Hinchliffe, speedster Jemma Mi Mi who went down with injury last round, and captain Gabi Simpson. While the Firebirds have had a topsy-turvy season to say the least, there is no doubt the side has been much more consistent than the lowly Vixens, and should realistically finish off their season on a high here, despite their big omissions.

While neither the Firebirds or the Vixens will make finals it is safe to say that both teams have everything to play for in this clash. One of the major issues for the Vixens this season has been in their front end with a lack of leadership inside the goal circle, and while Mwai Kumwenda has had a solid season, the lack of consistent impact from both Kaylia Stanton and Ruby Barkmeyer has really hurt the Vixens. While the Firebirds will miss Hinchliffe and her ball-winning ways, Kim Jenner and Rudi Ellis will be fired up to stop the Vixens in their tracks, especially with the Vixens’ secret weapon in Rahni Samason unable to play given her training partner status. The absence of Simpson will really hurt the Firebirds who benefit a lot from her leadership, with Hannah Mundy looking to exploit that missing link down back for the Firebirds. 

Expect an intriguing one-on-one between Kim Ravaillion and Kate Moloney with both players complete livewires in their own right with some huge influence behind their individual performances. While the Vixens have struggled in attack this season their defence has not let up and this last match will be no different with a trio of defenders in Jo Weston, Emily Mannix and Kadie-Ann Dehaney all likely to take the court against the Firebirds’ three-pronged attack in Romelda Aiken, Gretel Bueta and Tippah Dwan. Elsewhere, expect a tight one-on-one in the Firebirds front-end between Lara Dunkley and Kate Eddy with the two players having plenty of experience against the other, with Dunkley hoping to tire out the wing attack who has grown accustomed to switching out for Mi Mi on occasion.

NSW Swifts vs. Sunshine Coast Lightning
Saturday, August 7 @12:30pm

The Swifts will take on the Lightning in the first of two potential finals previews for the weekend, with everything on the line for the two teams which will want to ensure a good finals placing to earn a second chance week. Donning their heritage dresses for the second time this week, the Swifts will be hoping to finish on a high against an injury-riddled Lightning outfit which will be hoping for the return of Steph Wood to the fray. Expect a hard-fought clash here with plenty of intensity, as two of the past premiers fight for a valuable finals opportunity to finish off solid seasons.

It is safe to say that both teams will come in with ample recovery time following their past matchups this week, and there is no doubt that everything will be left on the court in this encounter. For the Lightning, Mahalia Cassidy is coming in off the back of an excellent outing on Tuesday night and will look to team up with Laura Scherian, Cara Koenen and potentially Wood once more to really fire up that attack line. The Swifts have a number of viable wing defence options to shut down Scherian with the obvious recent choice in Tayla Fraser highly likely, while Lauren Moore and Hadley are also viable options but could leave holes elsewhere if they take the court in wing defence.

If the Lightning are without Wood, Cara Koenen and Peace Proscovia will have their work cut out for them taking on Turner and Klau, with especially Koenen needing to up her game out in goal attack to provide much more of a playmaking role than she is used to. In the Lightning backend there is little doubt of who will start the game in defence with Karla Pretorius and Phumza Maweni the clear leaders down back, and looking to really test the combination of Wallace and Housby from the get-go. Garbin’s recent form will see her more than likely take the court if one of the aforementioned goalers is not quite firing, although the smothering defence from the Lightning could very well force the Swifts into errors and too much time working the ball around, with their patience sometimes putting them on the back foot.

West Coast Fever vs. GIANTS Netball
Saturday, August 7 @2:30pm

Expect an intriguing clash between the Fever and GIANTS to finish off the season, with their last encounter coming down to just one goal as the Fever pipped the GIANTS at the post. But away from the Fever’s hungry home crowd, the GIANTS could be in with a real chance of shaking up the table here, despite falling to the Lightning on Tuesday, and will be fighting to deny the Fever top spot on the leaderboard. The GIANTS will be hoping for the return of April Brandley who went down with an ankle injury against the Lightning, with the defender critical in their hunt for success.

There will be plenty of feeling in this matchup between the GIANTS and Fever with a couple of significant one on ones sure to set the tone for the match. Jo Harten has been in excellent form willing her side to fire up time and time again this season, with the matchup between the goal shooter and Courtney Bruce ultimately the one to watch in this match – whoever can take control in this one-on-one will likely lead their respective side to victory. The Fever cannot afford to underestimate youngster Sophie Dwyer who has really impressed this season and has continuously stepped up out the front. To make things even more interesting, Dwyer will take on fellow teenager Sunday Aryang, with neither player likely to give into a tight contest and Aryang just as likely to take charge in the back-end.

At the other end, the real test for the GIANTS will be stopping the impact of both Jhaniele Fowler and Alice Teague-Neeld with Teague-Neeld in particular able to create attacking forays seamlessly out the front and propel the ball to Fowler. Expect Verity Charles and Amy Parmenter to test one another the entire way with their respective intensity, while through the midcourt it is sure to be a physical battle between two never-say-die centres in Jess Anstiss and Jamie-Lee Price, with no love lost between the duo and neither afraid of a little niggle or whistle. Potentially missing Brandley, it is safe to say that Sam Poolman will have her work cut out for her, and while Kristiana Manu’a is more than capable of holding down the goal defence position, she has missed the spark that earned her the starting position last year.

Picture credit: James Worsfold/Getty Images