NORTHERN Stars will be looking to keep their undefeated record intact heading into Round 4 while all eyes will turn to the winless Mainland Tactix who despite putting in a strong effort last round fell agonisingly short.

Northern Stars vs. Southern Steel
Sunday, May 9 @4:15pm

It is going to be an enthralling clash between the Stars and Southern Steel as both sides are coming in off wins. The Stars are in scintillating form, yet to drop a game with their experience and class causing all sorts of havoc for opposition teams, while the youth throughout the Steel unit has provided the side with an element of unpredictability to give them a winning edge.

With Maia Wilson at the helm, the Southern Steel are going to have their hands full down in defence. The Northern Stars captain has only grown with confidence throughout the season with her accuracy and range a couple of notable features in her game play. She will once again need support from Jamie Hume who has proven to be a key playmaker out the front with Monica Falkner missing in action due to her niggling knee injury. Youngster Taneisha Fifita will have to be on her A-game if she is to limit Wilson under the post and will need the experienced Te Huinga Selby-Rickit to provide additional support in the circle to nullify any easy ball movement. The midcourt battle will also be one to watch as Stars’ midcourter Gina Crampton comes up against her old side and will be hoping to exploit the inexperience of Renee Savai’inaea and Kate Heffernan around circle edge.

But the Steel have an ace of their own up their sleeve boasting the services of George Fisher. The English international has been a rock in attack with her volume and willingness to go to post key. Up against the long arm brigade in Oceane Maihi, Elle Temu and of course Anna Harrison the Steel will have to be crafty with their delivery into the circle to ensure that they are not predictable and do not provide too many opportunities for the Stars defensive unit to gobble up free ball. Expect Tiana Metuarau to shoulder a lot of the load in attack given her attacking nous alongside seasoned campaigner Shannon Saunders.

Mainland Tactix vs. Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic
Sunday, May 9 @6:15pm

After making the grand final last year, it has been an incredibly disappointing start to the 2021 season for the Tactix who have been kept winless from three games so far meaning their clash against the Magic could be season-defining. For the Magic, it has been an inconsistent season notching up a win in Round 1 but unable to recapture those highs in their past two outings. With pride on the line expect both teams to throw everything they have at each other in order to keep their seasons alive.

It is fair to say that the Tactix look like a much better team when Te Paea Selby-Rickit is out on court and that is exactly what we saw last week. Returning from a broken foot and still on limited minutes it will be interesting to see much court time the goal attack gets this round. Her presence provides great confidence to Ellie Bird under the post while her impressive workload also alleviates the pressure on Erikana Pedersen and Kimiora Poi through the midcourt. If the Magic midcourt in Sam Winders and Georgie Edgecombe can get on top early it will go a long way in shutting down the Tactix, while their versatility and depth in the defensive circle is another trump card they hold with Temalisi Fakahoktau knowing both Bird and Selby-Rickit’s game inside out given she was a former Tactix player, while Erena Mikaere and Georgia Tong are capable of putting on an aerial masterclass.

Speaking of versatility, the Magic goal circle has a number of options which allows them to switch from a holding circle to a moving one very quickly. With the likes of Caitlin Bassett, Khiarna Williams and Chiara Semple at the helm, Waikato Bay of Plenty are bursting at the seams with talent but just need to finesse the entry into the circle. If Grace Kara gets out on court this round it will go a long way in setting up a win, but the Magic will have to combat a developing defensive combination in Jane Watson and Karin Burger to get there. The two are still fine-tuning their connections but have proven their ability to disrupt attacking forays with their tenacity and hands over pressure something that will need to be front and centre in this clash if they are to notch up their first win of the season.

Central Pulse vs. Northern Mystics
Monday, May 10 @7:15pm

The final game of the round sees Central Pulse play host to the Northern Mystics in what is set to be an exciting battle. The Pulse have been dealt a couple of blows of late with a suspected ankle injury to dynamic midcourter Maddy Gordon and are still trying to fill the void left by captain Ameliaranne Ekenasio. However in saying that they have shown glimpses of brilliance but will have to pull out all the stops against a confident Mystics side who are coming off a narrow one-goal win.

The Mystics midcourt will look to exploit Pulse’s developing connections if Gordon is out of action with youngster Paris Lokotui likely to get the nod in wing defence. With Peta Toeava in devastating form with ball in hand and Tayla Earle a real workhorse through the midcourt, their partnership with shooting sensation Grace Nweke is the real concern for the Pulse given their tendencies to deliver no-look bullet like passes into the circle and release the ball with great precision to allow Nweke free reign in the circle. Throw in the experience of Bailey Mes and the other viable options in Filda Vui and Saviour Tui – yet to take the court in 2021- and the Mystics have plenty of explosive shooting power. However, all eyes will turn to the starting position of Kelly Jury with the Pulse defender spending majority of the season in goal defence but does her best work in goal keeper and will need to shut down Nweke. Kelera Nawai has been strong down back but often draws the attention of the umpire which Pulse cannot afford if they want to win, while she also gives away some centimetres to the tall timber in Nweke.

With no Ekenasio – now effectively for the rest of the season following the goal attack’s pregnancy announcement – Aliyah Dunn has picked up the slack in the front-end commanding the ball and controlling proceedings with her strong holds and accuracy to post. Te Amo Amaru-Tibble is steadily finding her feet in the attacking unit but will have to combat the niggling style of defence from Kate Burley while Mystics captain Sulu Fitzpatrick is a menace with her court coverage, deceptive closing speed and fancy footwork. It will be up to Whitney Souness and Claire Kersten to bypass the Mystics defenders with their pinpoint passes into the circle.