By Stephanie Smarrelli
The race to finals is reaching boiling point, and last weekend proved no ladder position or premiership favourite is safe.
The Mavericks have spent weeks cemented inside the top four, but their grip could loosen this weekend when the Lightning arrive with renewed belief and their season on the line.
The Sunny Coast outfit produced the statement win of their season last round, toppling the reigning premiers in a performance that sent a warning to the competition.
The result kept their finals hopes alive and now they have the chance to shake up the top four again.
But the Mavericks won’t be giving anything away.
With history within reach, they’ll come into Round 11 desperate to defend their spot and prove they belong among the competition heavyweights.
The last time these sides met, the Mavericks exploded out of the blocks to control the opening half before the Lightning stormed back into the contest during a momentum-shifting third quarter before the Mavs regained control late to hold Lightning to their lowest-scoring quarter of the match.
At the centre of it all was Jamie-Lee Price, who dominated with 36 feeds, 22 goal assists, four deflections and two gains.
Lightning tried both Mahalia Cassidy and Leesa Mi Mi against her, but neither could contain the Mavericks’ midcourter for long.
So how will the Lightning nullify the impact of a rampant Jamie-Lee Price?
The answer could be simple, Liz Watson.
The Lightning midcourter will be critical this weekend.
But whether Belinda Reynolds pulls that lever or backs in Mi Mi and Cassidy to get the job done this time remains to be seen.
Watson continues to be a key driver in Lightning’s attack, while Mi Mi enters the match fresh off an MVP performance against the Vixens.
If the pair can combine cleanly through the midcourt, Lightning have the weapons to test the Mavericks’ relentless defensive pressure.
That pressure was decisive when the sides met in Round 5. General play turnovers proved costly for Lightning, with the Mavericks converting 91 per cent of turnovers into goals.
Protecting possession will be critical this weekend, but that task becomes even harder against the Mavericks’ defensive style that contests every pass and every phase.
The Mavericks also won the gains battle 16-12 in their previous meeting and their defensive combinations have only continued to strengthen since then.
Jessie Grenvold and Kim Brown are building impressive chemistry each week, while Charlotte Sexton has shown she is more than capable of stepping into the contest when called upon.
At the other end, the goal circles loom as another fascinating battleground.
Donnell Wallam and Cara Koenen head into the clash in strong form after testing the Vixens defence last round, while the Mavericks’ ever-changing shooting combinations continue to create headaches for opposition defenders.
That unpredictability could be crucial against Courtney Bruce and Karin Burger.
Gez Murphy’s willingness to rotate personnel through the shooting end has made it difficult for opponents to settle, and the Mavericks possess another dangerous weapon - the ability for every goaler to nail the Suncorp Super Shot.
All of the Mavericks goalers are confident to shoot from range.
Still, Lightning’s experienced defensive unit has the discipline and smarts to force difficult shooting positions that could disrupt the Mavs’ rhythm.
Interestingly, when the sides met earlier this season, the Mavericks didn’t land a single Super Shot while Lightning converted four. Yet across the season as a whole, it’s the Mavericks who have been the more damaging long-range side.
With finals ramifications hanging over every quarter, this shapes as far more than a regular-season clash.
For the Lightning, it’s a chance to keep their campaign alive and throw the finals race into chaos.
For the Mavericks, it’s an opportunity to protect their top-four position and prove they can withstand the pressure that comes with contender status.
REST OF THE WEEKEND
First Nations Round is set to begin on Saturday evening with a blockbuster clash between the GIANTS and Tarntanya Karntu (Adelaide Thunderbirds).
While the two sides sit in vastly different positions on the ladder, their last meeting proved the gap is far smaller than many expected.
The GIANTS pushed the reigning premiers all the way and only narrowly fell short, showing they have the ability to challenge even the competition’s best when they find their rhythm.
Still searching for their first win of the season, the GIANTS know this is more than just another opportunity, it’s a chance to change the narrative.
A breakthrough victory over the Thunderbirds would not only reignite belief within the squad but send a warning to the rest of the league that they remain a dangerous side capable of upsetting the season’s contenders.
On Sunday the Firebirds host a West Coast Fever side desperate to return to the winner’s list.
The Firebirds will go head-to-head with Fever this weekend.
Fever have shown flashes of brilliance throughout the season, but recent performances have raised questions about consistency.
The Firebirds, though, will see this as their chance to spark something special at home.
With their finals hopes hanging by a thread, every game now carries knockout-like intensity.
Then the reigning premiers host the NSW Swifts.
The Swifts are beginning to build momentum and are quickly re-emerging as one of the competition’s most dangerous teams.
Their attacking combinations are clicking into place, confidence is growing, and they’ll sense an opportunity to make a statement against one of the league’s benchmark sides.
But the Vixens know exactly what’s at stake with pressure mounting around the race for the top two, they can’t afford to let the Swifts get the win and open the door for another side to stake their claim on the Major Semi Final.
Don’t miss a second of the action, tune in live or on demand on Kayo Sports, Foxtel and BINGE.
