Super Netball: Grand final on the line for Lightning and Giants

Tomorrow’s preliminary final against the Giants will be the latest in a string of must-win matches for Sunshine Coast Lightning.

Sunshine Coast Lightning defender Karla Pretorius. Picture: AAP

Tomorrow’s preliminary final against the Giants will be the latest in a string of must-win matches for Sunshine Coast Lightning.

Three losses to begin the season placed the defending champions on the back foot from the off, but the Lightning have stormed home, only losing once over the past eight weeks.

And those extra do-or-die matches have stood the team in good stead in the finals, according to South African defender Karla Pretorius.

“The experience within the team, and what we experienced each round, has been great preparation for … what is coming on Sunday,” Pretorius said.

A stellar defensive circle featuring Pretorius and her captain Geva Mentor has ensured that no match ever slipped beyond reach for Sunshine Coast this season. The Lightning haven’t lost by more than three goals all year.

The Giants and West Coast Fever — enjoying a week of rest ahead of next week’s grand final — have both suffered 14-goal defeats this season.

Scoring has been more of a problem for Sunshine Coast. The Diamonds pairing of Caitlyn Bassett and Steph Wood has tallied only 809 goals in the regular season, the third lowest in the league.

The Lightning have been building round by round, however, and something seemed to click in a “special” one-goal win over the Firebirds last Sunday, according to Pretorius.

The Giants lost to the Lightning in last year’s grand final, and are expecting a fight tomorrow despite getting the better of their rivals this year.

“We didn’t beat them by much in that first game, and we drew that second game. Seeing the way (the Lightning) played against Firebirds, it’s definitely going to be a tough match,” ­Giants defender Kristiana Manua said.

She felt that the Giants were too hesitant early in their six-goal loss to the Fever last Saturday, and are eager to make the most of this second home final earned with their minor premiership.

That title came with a curse in 2017, when Melbourne Vixens were bundled out of the finals in consecutive home losses. But Manua said her team won’t lose if they stick to the game plan they have built over the course of the season.

“We put in all this work during the year … to build that. So if we stick to that then we’ll definitely get over the line,” she said.

Australian coach Lisa Alexander earlier this week warned against writing off the Giants, noting that they have a knack for producing their best netball when they have to.

Wing defender Jamie-Lee Price agreed.

“I think when we know we have to perform, we definitely do the job. We’re all confident, and we know that when we do all play together we’re unstoppable,” she said.

Giants coach Julie Fitzgerald has a knack for shuffling her players around in search of a match-up advantage, whereas the Lightning have stuck with a set starting seven all season.

Manua has shared court time at goal keeper with Sam Poolman, and towering goal shooter Kristina Brice has chipped in with 130 goals off the bench.

Price said that depth could be a decisive factor in the heat of finals. According to Pretorius, tomorrow’s match will be won by the team that “wants it the most”.