Burger gets off to a flyer despite delay

No athlete in Australian sport this year will have a pre-match experience quite like that of Queensland Firebirds centre Erin Burger.

The South African international's flight from Cape Town was due to arrive on Friday but a 24-hour delay meant she did not get her connecting flight to the Gold Coast until minutes before the start of the Firebird's 55-51 defeat to the Giants.

Burger was grateful to be given the first quarter to compose herself in the dressing room before joining her team courtside.

"I got here just before the match started and they gave me some extra time in the locker room," Burger said.

"I would have been here a day earlier but the flight I was supposed to be on was delayed.

"On the flight from Sydney I was nervous I would miss the game, but when I got here I was just excited to be back with the girls and be part of it tonight."

Taking part was impressive enough but Burger immediately imposed herself on proceedings, taking an interception with her first touch and helping her side recover from a four-point halftime deficit to get back on level terms at 29-29.

"For her to come on and get two interceptions in that third quarter was amazing, she really got us going," captain Gabi Simpson said.

Unfortunately, despite Burger's five goal assists, the Giants pulled away once more leaving the back-to-back champion Firebirds out of the top four going into the last six rounds of the season.