By Stephanie Smarrelli
Last weekend the Swifts and Lightning walked away with four points by the skin of their teeth.
With momentum on the line, Round 3 is shaping up for them to make an early-season statement.
The Swifts are aiming to break into the top four while Lightning are fighting to stay there and neither side can afford to blink.
They both survived last week but they’ll want to really own this one as the competition heats up.
The last time they met it was a heartstopper, and all signs point to another nailbiter on Saturday night.
If Lightning are to take the win again as they did in their last meeting, then it starts with their shooting end.
The combination of Cara Koenen and Donnell Wallam looks far more settled than it did in Round 1, but there’s still another gear to find.
The same can be said for the Swifts.
Their defensive unit of Sarah Klau, Maddy Turner and Teigan O’Shannassy have the tools to trouble the Lightning but they’re still building into the season.
Quiet against the Mavericks last week with zero intercepts despite applying pressure in crucial moments, the Swifts defensive end will be determined to fire.
The Swifts defence will need to step up a notch this weekend.
That will put the spotlight on Lightning’s composure. The Sunny Coast outfit had 10 unforced turnovers last week, a number they’ll want to lower against a Swifts side ready to capitalise.
The Swifts can flip a game in an instant; they excel at the Power 5 and reminded everyone last week.
Helen Housby and Grace Nweke were formidable against the Mavs, combining for seven Suncorp Super Shots to stay in the game and steal the win.
Their willingness to pull the trigger in the Super Shot zone creates a constant headache for defenders.
Lightning’s Courtney Bruce, Karin Burger and Ash Ervin will be faced with that dilemma this weekend.
Do they double team Housby who has proven year after year she’s a Super Shot star and risk giving Nweke space?
Or do they play one-on-one and hope they can shut down both?
The midcourt battle also looms large.
Lightning found a spark last week in young gun Ava Black.
The 22-year-old injected energy into the game to disrupt the Firebirds’ flow.
Back on the court following an ACL injury, in just two games she’s already shown she can be a genuine gamechanger for the side.
This week she’ll face a fellow rising star in the Swifts’ Grace Whyte.
Whyte’s experience working with Nweke and Housby continues to pay dividends for the Swifts but there’s a couple of other Swifts midcourters who will also be influential this weekend.
New mums Maddy Proud and Gina Crampton.
The duo are looking increasingly settled with each outing and in Round 2 their experience helped the Swifts keep possession when the game was on a knife’s edge.
There's no doubt the Lightning and Swifts are building, both are dangerous and both know this one matters.
Setting up a Saturday night showdown you really can’t miss.
REST OF THE ROUND
A must-see Saturday of netball begins with a battle for bragging rights in Victoria.
The Melbourne Mavericks are determined to bounce back from heartbreak while the Vixens aim to keep their unblemished start to the season rolling.
The Vixens are undefeated heading into Round 3.
Then on Sunday, Nissan Arena will be oozing with international talent as the winless Firebirds are desperate to ignite their season against the undefeated Thunderbirds.
Closing out the round, the GIANTS face a daunting trip west.
They’re still searching for their first win as they take on a West Coast Fever side eager to respond after a flat performance last week.
Don’t miss a second of the action, tune in live or on demand on Kayo Sports, Foxtel and BINGE.
