Giants get one over Super Netball premiers

Kimberlee Green and Kristiana Manu'a have made strong, emotional returns from long-term injuries to help the Giants reverse last year's Super Netball grand-final loss to the Sunshine Coast Lightning.

The Giants resisted a late surge to win 54-51 on Sunday in Sydney and collect six points, although the reigning premiers picked up points for winning the second and last quarters by a single goal.

Midcourter Green, who suffered a season-ending injury last year in round five, notched a game-high 23 score assists and, together with England star Serena Guthrie, kept a steady supply of good feeds into their shooters Jo Harten (33/36) and Susan Pettitt (21/28)).

Diamonds defender Manu'a, who missed all of 2017 with a torn achilles, made her Giants Super debut in the second quarter, replacing Sam Poolman.

Manu'a competed tenaciously against Caitlin Bassett despite conceding 11cm in height.

"It didn't really click that I was playing her until about the beginning of the fourth quarter. I was just trying to find my feet and try to get the hang of the speed," Manu'a said.

Both returning players shed tears after the game.

"Kris and I were in rehab for a very, very long time together so it was a good win for both of us," Green said.

Giants coach Julie Fitzgerald, who was mentoring her 300th game at elite level, said it meant a lot to have both players back.

Lightning coach Noeline Taura rejigged her midcourt at halftime, but felt her players weren't assertive enough.

"I just don't think we attacked it, to be honest, both in attack and defence. It was a bit meek in some respects," Taurua told AAP.

Swifts surged to an early 9-4 lead and were up by three at the first break.

Lightning scored four-straight goals to hit the front briefly in the second quarter and won it, though Giants led by two at halftime.

The teams were level in the third, before the Giants closed out the quarter with a 9-4 run to take a four-goal buffer into the final term.

They blew that out to eight early in the last, but Lightning staged a late rally to win the quarter.

Diamonds star Stephanie Wood made 15 of 16 attempts for the Lightning.