Liz Watson is ‘desperate’ to put an end to her old side’s unbeaten streak on Saturday night

Liz Watson is set to face the side she captained for the first time since dramatically leaving, adding another layer to an already huge clash, with a win crucial to getting the Lightning’s season back on track.

Former Vixens captain Liz Watson holds no malice towards her former club but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t want to be the first team to beat them this season.

Having a win ripped from their hands last weekend has given Lightning the fire they need to take on the competition favourites.

Watson moved from the Melbourne outfit to the Sunshine Coast Lightning in the off-season and despite the Vixens flying and her new side struggling on the court the Diamonds midcourter has no regrets.

“We are obviously desperate for that win, too,” she said. “They’re incredible having not lost yet so to be able to do it over there and hopefully take that away from them is something we’re definitely aiming for.”

With Lightning’s clash with the Mavericks to be played in Tasmania, this weekend’s game will be Watson’s only chance to play in front of the family and friends she left behind when she made the switch.

Watson said she was still “best friends” with the Vixens players.

“They’re awesome people, the fans were incredible as well – so hopefully they still like me,” Watson said.

“I’ve got so many family and friends coming to watch – but once we start playing netball we are obviously there to play for our team.

“There is definitely no malice with the team – I love the girls, I love the club – but it should be a good game.”

Liz Warson will face her old teammates on the weekend. Picture: Getty Images

SCORING FARCE

Lightning, who haven’t won a match since their round 1 victory over the Swifts, had a win ripped from their hands last weekend with the scoreboard fiasco.

The on-court scoreboard had Lightning as winners against Giants by one point – while the broadcaster had it as a draw. Despite Lightning being told they had won the game they were later forced back on the court for an extra-time battle – which the Giants went on to win.

Watson said she had never experienced anything like it.

“We didn’t expect that to ever happen, especially after 50 minutes of waiting around,” she said.

“There was a lot of talk about why we left the court, we left because our liaison said the game’s over, the final score stands. We were never told there was an official review.

“We interacted with the fans, did our normal stuff on the court after a game and then left – it wasn’t until we were sitting in the change room that we started thinking it was strange because our coach and team manager were still outside.

“They raced back up and said we had 10 minutes to warm up and we need to get back out there.

“It was crazy scenes. But you can’t get hung up on it anymore – we’ve got to let it go.”

While the loss had left the team feeling “flat” Watson said coach Belinda Reynolds had helped everyone put it behind them and focus on this weekend’s game.

The Lightning have had a disappointing season so far. Picture: Getty Images

LOOKING FORWARD

Lightning desperately need to get a win on the board if they want to keep their finals hopes alive.

Watson said the situation from last weekend had only given them more drive and the extra bit of “mongrel” they need to beat teams like the Vixens.

“We haven’t had the best start to the season, but I think that put a lot of things into reality for us,” Watson said.

“We are a really good one-point netball team, we’re one of the top teams in that aspect. It’s finding how we can be better in that two-point time in attack and defence.

“We’ve been very close in all our games, apart from the Fever one. We are there, we just can’t find the win.

“That’s been the focus because, to find a way to win, because we’re there in skill.”

There is no denying Lightning have the roster, even with several big stars out injured, to match it with the best Super Netball teams.

Watson said what was letting them down was the mental element.

“We let teams come back, we’re not able to punish teams and really put them away,” Watson said.

Where do you think the Lightning will finish this season? Picture: Getty Images

“We’ve let them back in and then ultimately they’ve won the game. Like the game with the Mavericks, we had control for 56 minutes of that game and then they won in the four minutes that they had control – that’s disappointing to know that you can have control for such a long time in the game – but you need 60 minutes to win a game.”

Not helping Lightning’s efforts on the court is their terrible run with injuries – Courtney Bruce, Ava Black and Mahalia Cassidy are still yet to be cleared for this weekend’s game.

“We’ve got the skills, the talent and the game plan to do,” Watson said.

“Injuries have held us back a little but we’ve used our depth, which has been really great.

“It’s just about finding a way to win in those moments regardless of who we have on court.”

The season is almost halfway through – Lightning are one of four teams with just one win.

“You definitely can’t write us off,” Watson said.

“The maths says we can obviously still do it, as can everybody.

“It’s going to be a very close finish in terms of the top three, four and down.

“The goal is still definitely finals.”

Vixens play Lightning 5pm on Saturday at John Cain Arena.