WITH another big round of Suncorp Super Netball coming up this week, all eight sides will be looking to settle their starting lineups as the 2019 season starts to take shape. There are still two sides undefeated coming into Round 4, so their respective opposition will need a big boost to come out on top this week. With all four matches looking close on paper, it is hard to pick winners in each game regardless of ladder position at this early stage of the competition. In the first Friday night match of the season, the Magpies will host Thunderbirds as both sides look to bounce back from slow starts to the season after respective Round 1 wins. Undefeated sides, Swifts and Vixens will take on Lightning and Fever, respectively, while the only Sunday match of the round will see Firebirds take on the GIANTS.

Collingwood Magpies v. Adelaide Thunderbirds

With both sides only sitting on one win to start the season, this match between the Magpies and Thunderbirds is likely to be a game changer as the Thunderbirds’ composure is tested against the likes of the Magpies’ experience. The Thunderbirds will come into this round missing Roses’ wing defence, Beth Cobden after a season-ending ACL injury last weekend against the Vixens and will hope to have Chelsea Pitman back in the side after a calf niggle finished her time on court early last round. In comparison, the Magpies will be coming into this game without any injuries, so will want to start hard and fast while the Thunderbirds look to find their Round 1 form. With the defensive units of both sides putting their best foot forward so far this season, look for big games from the likes of Shamera Sterling on Jamaican teammate, Shimona Nelson, while England great, Geva Mentor will want to exert her experience over Thunderbirds’ young sharpshooter, Sasha Glasgow. April Brandley will have her composure tested against the likes of reliable long bomb, Maria Folau making for a close battle. Thunderbirds centre, Kelly Altmann will have her work cut out for her against Kim Ravaillion, while the side will need to think carefully about who takes the court in wing defence against Magpies pocket-rocket, Kelsey Browne. Nat Medhurst will look to find her form again this round after an off week against the GIANTS, while Sterling’s fellow circle defenders, Layla Guscoth and Kate Shimmin will want to take notes from the GIANTS’ win and shut down movement in the goal third.

NSW Swifts v. Sunshine Coast Lightning

In what looks like the biggest match of the round, the settled Swifts will take on the new-look reigning premiers, Lightning. Despite a hiccup in Round 1, Lightning have not skipped a beat coming into 2019 with dominant players standing up across the court. The Swifts have had a stellar start to the year winning three from three, so will hope to do it again this week. The two sides have shown they are not afraid to take on teams, and with both having shot 80 goals against the ailing Fever in consecutive rounds, are clearly also able to shoot a significant volume at high accuracy. Both sides have dominant goal shooters at the post able to pluck the ball out of the air in Peace Proscovia (Lightning) and Sam Wallace (Swifts), while also have similarly moving goal attacks out front in Steph Wood and Helen Housby. With both sides boasting exceptional goalers, it is likely to be the midcourt battle that will be the game changer, with the likes of Maddy Proud, Paige Hadley, Laura Langman and Laura Scherian all having stellar starts to the season. Defensively, the high pressure of the Swifts’ defenders in Maddy Turner and Sarah Klau have the ability to chip away at the attackers’ accuracy, however the pair may not have the height or aerial ability to combat Proscovia’s strength at the post. For Lightning, South African duo, Karla Pretorius and Phumza Maweni certainly have the game smarts and experience to get the job done, so will want to put the foot down early to deny the Swifts entry to the goal circle.

West Coast Fever v. Melbourne Vixens

If the Fever are without captain, Courtney Bruce once again this week, it is hard to see the Vixens not come out on top given their dominant start to the season. The Vixens’ combination of cleanliness and composure down the court will make it hard for the Fever to get an upper hand, despite the improved defensive connection between Stacey Francis, Shannon Eagland and Olivia Lewis in recent weeks. Francis’ speed on the likes of Tegan Philip could be a big matchup, given Philip likes to rely on her quick footwork to move freely through attack, however it will be a toss-up between Eagland and Lewis against the experience of Caitlin Thwaites at the post. The Vixens’ goalers will be hard to shut down, given their ability to shoulder the load and shoot from any position around the ring. For the Fever, Kaylia Stanton showed she is willing to step up to the plate and take the goal attack bib, so it is likely Stanton will start with Jhaniele Fowler in the circle up against the stellar defensive movement of Jo Weston, Emily Mannix and Kadie-Ann Dehaney. Fowler will be a big task for the Vixens defensively, so the side will likely look to midcourters, Renae Ingles, Kate Moloney and Liz Watson to deny ball movement through the centre third, with the experienced trio able to turn a game on its head by taking control of the midcourt. This match will be a big test for the likes of Jess Anstiss, Verity Charles and Ingrid Colyer, so the Fever will need to put on their best performance for the season so far to get over the line.

Queensland Firebirds v. GIANTS Netball

In an unprecedented start to the season, both GIANTS and Firebirds come into this match at the lower end of the ladder, hoping to get an elusive win to really kickstart their season. The GIANTS just got over the line last week against the Magpies, so will want to come into this match full throttle to ensure they get a second win on the board. The Firebirds, despite starting most games this season fairly well, have let their opposition get on top throughout the match and thus far have no wins on the board – albeit drawing with the Magpies in Round 2. Amy Parmenter had a solid match in wing defence in Round 3, earning player of the match honours for her efforts, so will want to back that performance up this week with Jamie-Lee Price likely taking up the centre bib once again. With both players strong defensively, their ability against speedsters, Mahalia Cassidy, Jemma Mi Mi and Caitlyn Nevins will prove crucial as they attempt to limit ball movement to Gretel Tippett and Romelda Aiken inside the circle. Aiken switched into goal keeper last week in an effort to reduce the attempts of Peace Proscovia, so is an option to come into defence in the worst scenario for the Firebirds, however the side risks losing the volume of shots with Aiken out of the goal circle. With the GIANTS’ issues inside their own goal circle, rotation of Caitlin Bassett, Jo Harten and Kiera Austin is likely to come into fruition once again. Firebirds defenders, Tara Hinchliffe and Kim Jenner will want to poke holes in the GIANTS circle with their aerial ability and good timing, but will also need to watch out for the skilful feeding of Kim Green in wing attack, whose experience shows in her skilful feeds into the circle regardless of the connection in goals. The Firebirds will hope to see valuable wing defence and captain, Gabi Simpson back out on court this round after sitting out Round 3.