IN a way the 2023 Suncorp Super Netball season feels like it has only just begun, but already we have hit the halfway mark of the season.

One and a half games is all that separates second from fifth right now, so there is still so much to play for.

As for this weekend’s line up of matches, it begins in Melbourne tomorrow night with the Vixens playing host to the Firebirds.

Melbourne comes into this match in a situation it has not found itself very often over the last 18 months or so. Last week the Vixens blew a chance to nab a crucial win over the Swifts, and currently find themselves outside the top four as a result.

They come up against a Firebirds side with a renewed confidence after they defeated the GIANTS last week for their first win of the season.

Containing an in form Donnell Wallam is going to be a tricky task for the Vixens, but if Jo Weston and Olivia Lewis can work together and combine their abilities in the air, that will go a long way. Presuming Lewis does get the start at goal keeper, Kim Ravaillion and Lara Dunkley are going to have to be mindful of Lewis’ ability in the air and be creative with their feeds into Wallam.

Tomorrow’s other match is in Sydney, where the GIANTS and Swifts will battle it out in another Sydney Derby.

The GIANTS will no doubt be coming into this match a little rattled after becoming the first victims of the Firebirds for 2023 on top of losing skipper Jo Harten to injury. A lot is going to be riding on the young shoulders of Matisse Letherbarrow in tomorrow’s clash.

The game of Maddy Turner will be another interesting one to watch. How she responds after not making the Diamonds’ squad will be fascinating to see, and whether she can come out and try and prove to the Diamonds’ selectors why they perhaps made a mistake in not picking her.

On the flipside of that, it will also be fascinating to see how Diamonds’ fringe players Maddy Proud and Amy Parmenter go off the back of making the squad, and whether they come out all guns blazing trying to prove they deserve more consistent time in the playing squad at international level.

Sunday’s action begins in the Sunshine State when the Sunshine Coast host the West Coast Fever.

Before Lightning’s win on Tuesday, things may have been a little daunting for them heading into this weekend’s clash. The Fever lost for the first time last weekend so they will be coming into this clash fired up, and combine that with the short turnaround for the Lightning and things were looking slightly bleak.

However, if the Lightning play like they did on Tuesday and with that level of confidence, this clash should be tight and very entertaining.

Will Kadie-Ann Dehaney have the aerial ability to reach and block feeds into fellow Jamaican Jhaniele Fowler? How will the tussle between Diamonds team mates Cara Koenen and Courtney Bruce go up the other end? Time will tell.

It is a big week for Sasha Glasgow, who did not make the Diamonds’ squad but with a lot of speculation about her future at international level, will perhaps be trying to prove some doubters wrong and get the attention of some key people from the mother country.

To wrap up the weekend there is the only clash not on Australia’s east coast, with the Thunderbirds playing host to the Magpies.

Now if Collingwood are unable to sort out its issues from last week, this could spell a lot of trouble. Adelaide is in great form already this season, but will be extra confident after last week’s win over the Fever.

It is a big week for Sophie Garbin this week. Although she made the Diamonds’ squad yesterday, there were a lot of questions raised after her poor performance last week so she will be looking to bounce back in a big way this weekend.

She could not have picked a worse week to need to prove some doubters wrong. She will have to try and get back into form against one of the toughest defensive combinations in the league – an inform Shamera Sterling and newly promoted Diamond Matilda Garrett. This is if Latanya Wilson has not pick pocketed the ball first.

SSN Round 7 Fixture (All times local)

Melbourne Vixens vs Queensland Firebirds – Saturday at 5pm – John Cain Arena

GIANTS Netball vs NSW Swifts – Saturday at 7pm – Ken Rosewall Arena

Sunshine Coast Lightning vs West Coast Fever – Sunday at 2pm – UniSC Arena

Adelaide Thunderbirds vs Collingwood Magpies – Sunday at 3:30pm – Netball SA Stadium