AFTER an emotional few days in the Australian netball community, it is time to shift focus and try and focus on court for one final month of the 2023 Suncorp Super Netball season.

This weekend could potentially be season defining.

Currently the fifth placed GIANTS and sixth placed Lightning are three and four wins respectively behind the fourth placed Vixens. With only four rounds left in the season, both teams are teetering on the edge of still being in contention for finals. Both the GIANTS and Lightning need to win every game and hope the Vixens slip up at least once to remain in contention.

This weekend’s action begins on the Sunshine Coast with the Lightning hosting the Magpies.

It looms as an emotionally charged match in the wake of Collingwood’s week, but what comes of that remains to be seen.

Last time these two sides met, it was a comfortable win to the Lightning on ANZAC Day, but a lot has happened since then.

One thing Collingwood will need to do this week is get their shooting circle firing. Perhaps even rejigging their starting shooters to have Kelly Singleton as the starting goal attack may make some difference, and will certainly give an extra element of speed to the circle which will counter the whit of Karla Pretorius and Kadie-Ann Dehaney.

The second match tomorrow is going to be a very interesting one.

Last time the Thunderbirds and Fever met, the Thunderbirds handed the Fever their first loss of the 2023 season.

However, if Tippah Dwan is still out this week that will prove tricky for the Thunderbirds to repeat history. If last week’s game against the Vixens was anything to go by, the Thunderbirds really struggle without her at goal attack which allows Georgie Horjus to stay at wing attack. If Horjus is forced into goals, as good as she is in goals no one can step up and properly fill her role at wing attack.

Regardless, Shamera Sterling and Matilda Garrett are going to have a tough challenge this weekend tackling Jhaniele Fowler and Sasha Glasgow, with the latter coming off a record 14 Super Shot game last week.

Sunday’s action begins in Melbourne, with the Vixens hosting the Swifts.

Last time around this match up was a tight win to the Swifts, so will history in fact repeat itself this week? Both teams are likely to come into the clash full of confidence after big wins last week, but the way the sides won will give them that added boost of confidence.

Helen Housby was on another level of form last week, but this week she will have to try and beat someone else who is in really good form in Jo Weston, so that is sure to be a match up that will be entertaining to watch.

The last clash of the round is in Sydney, with the GIANTS hosting the Firebirds. Last time these two sides met the Firebirds earned their first win of the season, but the GIANTS eliminated one monkey off their back last week so can they do another this week?

The big question for the GIANTS this week is will Jo Harten be back from her injury? Remi Kamo and Ruby Bakewell-Doran will certainly be hoping not, but even if she is not back this week Matisse Letherbarrow has proven to be a handy replacement and will look to continue that this weekend.

Suncorp Super Netball Round 11 Fixture (All times local)

Sunshine Coast Lightning vs Collingwood Magpies – Saturday at 5pm – UniSC Arena
Adelaide Thunderbirds vs West Coast Fever – Saturday at 6:30pm – Netball SA Stadium
Melbourne Vixens vs NSW Swifts – Sunday at 2pm – John Cain Arena
GIANTS Netball vs Queensland Firebirds – Sunday at 4pm – Ken Rosewall Arena