Swifts vow Super Netball rebound to final

A schooling from former teammate Laura Langman hasn't diminished Paige Hadley's belief in the NSW Swifts' ability to win a first national netball league title since 2008.

The Swifts' stand-in captain has been mighty during this Super Netball season, forcing her way back into the Australian national team with a series of standout performances.

But she was powerless against the Sunshine Coast Lightning's premier midcourter in the 58-48 major semi-final loss at USC Stadium on Saturday.

Silver Ferns veteran Langman had a season-high 202 touches - more than three a minute - in her head-to-head battle with Hadley, a teammate at the Swifts in 2016.

"She got the better of me unfortunately, and I think that to beat Lightning I've got to be on my A-game and shut down her flow," Hadley admitted.

"She doesn't stop. You think you've got her in a good position then she keeps going and re-offering."

The Swifts must now regroup to host a preliminary final next Sunday against the Collingwood Magpies or Melbourne Vixens.

Advance and they face a rematch with the back-to-back champions in Brisbane on September 15, a challenge Hadley would relish.

"The belief in this team is unreal," she said.

"If we've got to do it the hard way, it's going to get done."

A tough assignment looms given the Swifts have lost three of their last five games after opening the campaign strongly.

Their impetus has clearly been affected by injuries with coach Briony Akle forced to make significant changes to her line-up after losing captain Maddy Proud and wing defence Kate Eddy to season-ending setbacks.

English shooter Helen Housby's month-long absence after the World Cup has also affected cohesion.

However, Akle was staying positive as she plots a course to the preliminary final.

"We'll be fine. We go back to Sydney and we've got the home court," she said.

"We haven't come this far to give up."