Wide open as finals beckon for ANZ Championship contenders

THERE is no better evidence of the incredible fight for an ANZ Championship finals berth than the predicament confronting the Adelaide Thunderbirds.

ANZ Championship grand final 2011

THERE is no better evidence of the incredible fight for an ANZ Championship finals berth than the predicament confronting the Adelaide Thunderbirds.

The 2010 champions can finish anywhere from top to six when they take on the Canterbury Tactix in Adelaide on Sunday in the final minor round.

If they conquer the bottom side and the Melbourne Vixens, Northern Mystics and Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic lose they will finish top. It is a highly unlikely scenario but still possible.

The Vixens need only beat the struggling Southern Steel in Invercargill on Sunday to clinch the home court advantage for the second semi-final.

But all four spots in the finals are up for grabs and six teams are still capable of finishing in the top four.

Last year's champions, Queensland Firebirds, will need some miracles to fall their way to climb into the top four.

Firstly they must beat the in-form Magic in New Zealand and hope the Thunderbirds and NSW Swifts are beaten.

So will the winner's curse strike the Firebirds? The first three champions  NSW Swifts, Vixens and Thunderbirds  all failed to qualify for the finals the season after claiming grand final glory.

The composition of the finals will not be determined until the final minor round clash between the Magic and Firebirds in Hamilton on Monday night.

This could be the year a Kiwi side finally breaks the drought with the Mystics and Magic having the credentials to secure the title.

And there is a chance both games on the first weekend of finals could be contested in NZ.

Here is the permutations facing each team:

1: Vixens (18 points, 110.92 per cent)
(playing Steel in Invercargill)
To finish top: win.
Second: Lose, Mystics win, Magic and Thunderbirds lose. Lose, Mystics lose and one winner among Magic and Thunderbirds.
Third: Lose, only two winners among Mystics, Magic and Thunderbirds.
Fourth: Lose and Mystics, Magic and Thunderbirds win.

2: Mystics (18, 105.65)
(Swifts in Auckland )
Top: win and Vixens lose.
Second: Win, Vixens win. Lose, Magic and Thunderbirds lose.
Third: Lose, one winner among Magic and Thunderbirds.
Fourth: Lose, Magic and Thunderbirds win.

3: Magic (16, 117.24)
(Firebirds in Hamilton )
Top: Win, Vixens and Mystics lose.
Second: Win, one winner among Vixens and Mystics
Third: Win, Vixens and Mystics win. Lose, Thunderbirds and Swifts lose.
Fourth: Lose and Thunderbirds win, Swifts lose.
Miss finals: Lose and Thunderbirds, Swifts win.

4: Thunderbirds (16, 111.01)
(Tactix in Adelaide )
Top: Win and Vixens, Mystics and Magic lose.
Second: Win, one winner among Vixens, Mystics and Magic.
Third: Win, two winners among Vixens, Mystics and Magic.
Fourth: Win, Vixens, Mystics and Magic win. Lose, Swifts lose and Firebirds can win but do not bridge 1.47 percentage.
Miss finals: Lose, Swifts win or Firebirds win and bridge 1.47 percentage.

5: Swifts (16, 97.79)
(Mystics in Auckland )
Third: win, Magic and Thunderbirds lose.
Fourth: Win, one winner from Magic and Thunderbirds.

6: Firebirds (14, 109.54)
(Magic in Hamilton )
Fourth: Win, Thunderbirds lose and bridge 1.47 percentage, Swifts lose.