The Mainland Tactix need a win against the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic in Hamilton tonight if they want to keep their ANZ Premiership play-off hopes alive.
Jane Watson of the Tactix Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The Tactix are fourth on the table and need to win their final game to climb up to third and into the last play-off spot.
The third placed Northern Mystics do have a game in hand.
Form suggests the Tactix should come away with maximum points from their match-up with the Magic, but the Magic will be playing for pride in front of a home crowd in what is their last game of an injury-ravaged campaign.
The ledger also sits in favour with the hosts having beaten the Tactix 55-48 in their Round 5 clash and again in Round 6 by just a single goal. But that was with captain Casey Kopua in their playing ranks and since her loss through injury, the Magic has struggled.
They have lost their last five games.
Meanwhile the Tactix are coming off an impressive win over the top of the table Central Pulse.
They are chasing their first ever appearance in the play-offs of the competition.
Tactix assistant coach and former Silver Fern Julie Seymour says after their win over the Pulse last week they know they have what it takes to make history.
"Beating the Pulse was a boost to our confidence, just knowing that we could foot it with the best teams."
"I think what was really important was the consistency we showed across all four quarters, so it was really pleasing that we didn't take the foot off the accelerator, they had little runs but we were able to withstand that and then inch ahead."
Julie Seymour Assistant Coach of the Tactix and Marianne Delaney-Hoshek Coach of the Tactix with Manager Leanne Harris. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The Tactix have lost both games against the Magic so far this season, and Seymour says they'll be focussing on their own game tonight.
"We want to put out a really good performance and then obviously the balls back in the Mystics court if we can get a win."
"Any sports person will tell you you can really only control what you can control and at the end of the day that's what we're going to focus on and what will be will be."
If the Tactix do win tonight then the Mystics need to beat the Pulse on Wednesday night to grab the third and final play-off spot from them.
The Southern Steel will host the preliminary final against either the Tactix or the Mystics with the winner then going on to meet the Pulse in the final.
