The NSW Swifts have the opportunity to secure a Major Semi Final spot, and a second chance at Finals time, when they play the Sunshine Coast Lightning in Round 14 of Suncorp Super Netball at Brisbane's Nissan Arena tomorrow (12.30pm AET).
A win would guarantee the six-time Premiers a top-two spot and a potential Minor Premiership should they post a greater final goal percentage than the victors of the West Coast Fever's clash with the Giants.
A loss for the Swifts would mean a do-or-die Minor Semi Final against either the West Australians or their local rivals next weekend with the victor of that game progressing to the Preliminary Final. The winner of Major Semi Final, which also takes place next weekend, progresses straight to the 2021 Grand Final.
The Swifts qualified for a third consecutive Finals Series with two regular-season games to spare but were made to work hard against a much-improved Adelaide Thunderbirds on Wednesday night to keep pace with their top-four rivals.
NSW's hard-earned 58-53 win over Adelaide means the top four teams, who are all qualified for Finals, are tied on 32 points each at the summit of the Super Netball ladder with one round to play.
And the beauty of this year's draw means they all play on the final day of regular-season competition.
Swifts head coach Briony Akle said the competition's organisers could not have asked for a better scenario ahead of a Super Saturday of netball action.
"I don't know if there has been a better showdown in the final round of any sports code in recent memory," Akle said.
"When you see how much sacrifice has been put in across all the Super Netball clubs this year I think we have the endgame that is fitting to what's been a hugely competitive season so far.
"Even the teams who haven't made Finals this year have pushed the top four exceptionally hard with the Magpies and Thunderbirds teaching us a lesson during the year.
"Despite all of the disruption am I exceptionally proud of my players. We have our fate in our own hands and I know they have the ability to deliver a second Premiership in three years. Now it becomes a mental game and there is no better preparation for the playoffs than a game we can treat as a Final before the Finals."
The Swifts and Lightning have built a famous rivalry in recent years, highlighted by a series of close battles in 2019 before NSW eventually beat the Queenslanders in that season's Grand Final.
Earlier this year Sunshine Coast beat the Swifts at the death in Round 4 in a game that ebbed and flowed from start to finish. Akle said she expected another titanic tussle in Brisbane:
"Usually there is nothing more than a last-minute intercept or turnover play between us and the Lightning.
"Since Super Netball replaced the ANZ Championship in 2017 I think the Lightning have been the most consistent side with five consecutive Finals appearances and two titles.
"There is a huge respect between the teams and they showed against the Giants this week (the Lightning won in extra time) that they have composure and clever players to see games out.
"We want to give ourselves the best chance to win another Premiership so we'll be treating this game as the first of a number of Grand Final games."
The Swifts' clash with Lightning will be broadcast live on Channel Nine and Telstra's Netball Live App.
