THERE will certainly be plenty of emotion this weekend in the world of netball, as competing distractions linger over the heads of the world’s best netballers.

ANZ PREMIERSHIP

MATCH OF THE ROUND

Northern Mystics vs. Mainland Tactix
Sunday at 4pm
The Trusts Arena, Auckland

This has the potential to be a particularly intriguing clash.

Both of these sides will be wanting to put last week’s matches behind them, but for very different reasons. The Mystics fell to the Steel, while the Tactix may have jumped to the top of the table but would have wanted to put the Stars away by more than a mere goal.

Grace Nweke may still be absent from the Mystics line up, which will make Jane Watson and Karin Burger’s job a bit easier, but Hannah Glen has really stepped up to the plate in Nweke’s absence, so is sure to provide the Tactix defenders with plenty to think about.

OTHER FIXTURES

Southern Steel vs. Central Pulse | Saturday, 4pm @ ILT Stadium Southland, Invercargill

Northern Stars vs. WBOP Magic | Monday, 7:30pm @ Auckland Netball Centre

NETBALL SUPERLEAGUE

MATCH OF THE ROUND

Leeds Rhinos vs. Severn Stars
Saturday at 3pm
University of Huddersfield

There is sure to be plenty of emotion in this clash, not just in the backdrop of all that has happened in the last 24 hours.

The Leeds Rhinos will be dealing with the relief of knowing their club has a future past the end of the season while also continuing to fight to keep their faint finals hopes alive with the knowledge that one loss means that they will not play finals.

The Stars on the other hand have to deal with the emotions of knowing their club is not continuing beyond 2024 while still fighting to keep their spot in the top four.

Joyce Mvula is in really strong form at the moment, but will certainly have plenty of work on Saturday trying to counter a what is sure to be fired up Jo Trip and the rest of the Stars defence.

OTHER FIXTURES

Team Bath vs. Strathclyde Sirens | Friday, 7:30pm @ Team Bath Arena

Saracens Mavericks vs. Cardiff Dragons | Saturday, 6pm @ Hertfordshire Sports Village

Surrey Storm vs. Loughborough Lightning | Saturday, 6pm @ Surrey Sports Park

Manchester Thunder vs. London Pulse | Sunday, 6pm @ AO Arena

SUNCORP SUPER NETBALL

MATCH OF THE ROUND

Sunshine Coast Lightning vs. West Coast Fever  
Saturday at 7pm
UniSC Arena

There also has the potential to be a lot of emotion in this clash on Saturday night.

After a lean month of results, the Sunshine Coast Lightning are starting to find their way back into some impressive form in the past few weeks.

On the other side of the equation the Fever will be coming into this match off the back of their first loss of 2024, and will be fired up to make sure their losing run does not extend.

On top of all that, this will be the first time several players will be playing their former side, including Kadie-Ann Dehaney and (depending on injury)Courtney Bruce.

OTHER FIXTURES

Melbourne Vixens vs. GIANTS Netball | Saturday, 5pm @ John Cain Arena

Queensland Firebirds vs. Adelaide Thunderbirds | Sunday, 2pm @ Nissan Arena

Melbourne Mavericks vs. NSW Swifts | Sunday, 4pm @   John Cain Arena

SUNCORP SUPER NETBALL RESERVES

There is certainly going to be plenty of history at stake this weekend when the SSN Reserves competition gets underway. With no precedent to go off, it is all to play for right from the get go.

OPENING WEEKEND FIXTURES

Saturday

Queensland Firebirds v West Coast Fever – 10am at Nissan Arena
Sunshine Coast Lightning v Adelaide Thunderbirds- 3:45pm at UniSC Arena
Melbourne Vixens v GIANTS – after the SSN match at John Cain Arena

Sunday

Sunshine Coast Lightning v West Coast Fever – 12pm at UniSC Arena
Queensland Firebirds v Adelaide Thunderbirds – 4pm at Nissan Arena
Melbourne Vixens v NSW Swifts – 11am at State Netball Centre, Parkville