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Calculators at the ready in Super Netball’s final round

Don’t be surprised if you see calculators on the netball court this weekend.

West Coast Fever players Jhaniele Fowler and Verity Charles
West Coast Fever players Jhaniele Fowler and Verity Charles
AAP

Don’t be surprised if you see calculators on the netball court this weekend.

The final round of the Super Netball season is set to be a cracker with percentage and bonus points to play a vital role in deciding the make up of the top four.

Five teams are still in the hunt for a finals berth with only Adelaide, NSW and Collingwood out of the picture.

West Coast (70 points) and GWS (69) will slog it out in Sydney tonight, with the winner to finish on top and earn two home finals. The loser could finish as high as second or as low as fourth. Third-placed Sunshine Coast Lightning (63) and fourth-placed Queensland Firebirds (62) will guarantee themselves a finals berth with victory in their respective games.

The fifth-placed Melbourne Vixens (57 points) have the highest mountain to climb.

To guarantee themselves a berth in the finals they need to beat the Sunshine Coast Lightning in Melbourne tonight and claim all four bonus points. A team claims a bonus point for every quarter they win.

If the Vixens claim only three bonus points they will need to eclipse the Lightning on percentage — with a five-goal win probably being enough. A win but only two bonus points is unlikely to be enough for the Vixens to make the finals — barring a mini miracle in the Queensland versus Collingwood game in Brisbane tonight.

Queensland need a lot to go right to have a chance of sneaking into second spot so a charge for third spot is their most realistic option.

Whoever finishes third earns hosting rights for the third versus fourth playoff.

Only one competition point currently separates Queensland and defending premiers Sunshine Coast, meaning their tussle for third could come down to bonus points and percentage.

Sunshine Coast are still in the hunt to snare second spot, but the defending champions will probably need to claim all four bonus points for that to occur.

AAP

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Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/netball/calculators-at-the-ready-in-super-netballs-final-round/news-story/34a68d4b88dcc42526050b6faece6acc