Consistency key to Swifts clash: Vixens

Coach Simone McKinnis insists consistency will be vital to the Melbourne Vixens' cause against the NSW Swifts in their trans-Tasman netball league clash.

The Melbourne side will focus on delivering four quality quarters when they face the Swifts, second in the Australia conference, for the third time in Sydney on Sunday.

"The last game we played (against the Swifts), we had three really good quarters and a poor (third) quarter. And that cost us," McKinnis told AAP on Thursday.

The Vixens clinched a spot in the play-offs after an emphatic 66-53 victory over Central Pulse on Monday.

McKinnis said her side was written off after going into the season without goal attack Tegan Philip and shooter Karyn Bailey.

"Given the injuries and the quality of players that we lost, throughout the season the focus was on other teams," she said.

"We've been finding ourselves in really good form in the back end.

"We have the strength as a team to beat the best."

NSW missed the chance to steal top spot they drew 59-all with the Southern Steel on Saturday.

Coach Rob Wright said the Swifts had their own consistency issues to tackle.

"At times we've been outstanding and at times we drop away and that lets people back into the competition," he said.