Netball's Vixens bracing for tough semi
Melbourne Vixens coach Simone McKinnis anticipates her Super Netball minor premiers' major semi-final clash with Sunshine Coast Lightning will be very different to the blowout win they had in their last encounter.
Lightning counterpart Noeline Taurua has already warned they will "hit the Vixens really strong".
The Vixens secured top spot on percentage from Lightning with a 68-42 rout of seventh-placed West Coast Fever in Perth on Saturday.
A couple hours earlier, Lightning briefly occupied top spot with a 56-55 away win over Giants, which condemned the Sydney club to third spot and a knockout semi.
The Giants will host fourth placed Collingwood in next Saturday's minor semi, with the Magpies beating the last-placed Thunderbirds 49-47 in Sunday's final regular season match.
McKinnis allowed herself a little time to enjoy finishing first before thinking about playing a Lightning side her team beat 70-59 in round 10 at Margaret Court Arena, where they will clash again next weekend.
"They are a fantastic team and in the last couple of weeks they have been playing really well,' McKinnis said.
"I know it will be a much different game than when we played them in Melbourne where we had a really good win."
The Lightning, who were the highest placed of the three new franchises in the semi-finals, scored a 58-52 win over Vixens in round two.
Taurua, who steered Waiktao-Bay of Plenty Magic to several trans-Tasman finals campaigns and the title in 2012, wasn't getting too excited about securing a double chance with her latest team.
"I see it as a good start, being guaranteed a double chance but I don't want to rest on our laurels," Taurua said.
"I want to go back and hit the Vixens really strong. They walloped us last time we played there and we left our tails dragging behind us."
Lightning have won their four games since.
The Magpies and Giants each won on the other's home court.
Giants were the early pacesetter but lost their past two games while the surging star-studded Magpies have won six of their past seven after a mediocre start.
Last season's trans-Tasman champions Firebirds and runners-up Swifts, finished fifth and sixth respectively after Queensland won 67-48 in their final round clash in Sydney.
ESSENTIAL FACTS ABOUT SUPER NETBALL'S FIRST FINALS SERIES.
Major semi-final
* Melbourne Vixens (1) v Sunshine Coast Lightning (2) - Saturday 3 June, Margaret Court Arena, Melbourne 4pm (AEST).
* Season record: Vixens 23 points (11-1-2), goals for: 874 (1st), goals against 744 (4th). Lightning 23 (11-1-2), goals for 808 (2nd), goals against 726 (1st).
* Season head-to-head: 1-1. Lightning 58 Vixens 52 (round 2, Sippy Downs USC Stadium), Vixens 70 Lightning 59 (round 10, Margaret Court Arena).
Minor Semi Final
* Giants (3) v Collingwood Magpies (4) - Saturday 3 June, Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre, Sydney, 7pm (AEST).
* Season record: Giants 20 points (10-4), goals for 773 (4th), goals against 728 (2nd). Magpies: 16 points (9-5), goals for 770 (5th), goals against 730 (3rd ).
* Season head-to-head: 1-1. Magpies 51 Giants 59 (round 3 Hisense Arena), Giants 56 Magpies 59 (round 9 Qudos Bank Arena).
* Preliminary Final: June 10
* Grand Final: June 17
