Post-season netball action is still a few weeks away in the Murray League, but fans will get a glimpse of what could be to come, with a blockbuster top-four clash between Moama and Nathalia this weekend.
The third-placed Purples and fourth-placed Magpies have been two of the top sides this season, and they will go head-to-head in a potential finals preview on Saturday at Moama Recreation Reserve.
With finals just around the corner, Moama coach Lisa Drysdale said this would be a great test and a huge occasion for her side.
“We are heading into one of the biggest games we’ll have in the second half of the season,” Drysdale said.
“It is very exciting, it is a huge game in our eyes. It could potentially mean the difference between us finishing third or fourth on the ladder.”
It might be a regular season game, but Drysdale said her side would be treating it as if the finals had already begun.
“One hundred per cent this will be like our first final. We will shape up, be ready and prepare as well as we can,” Drysdale said.
“It’s perfect for us to face them. To have a strong game at the pointy end of the season and prepare for that has been a perfect run home.
“Having that hype and getting used to the build-up and the feeling of a finals game is great.
“The team definitely knows that finals is locked in, but I will be asking everyone to be so accountable for the ball with every pass and every move, not running in to people’s spaces and being aware on the court.”
Both sides will be hungry for a win, despite already securing their finals status. The Purples need a victory to keep their hopes of a top-two finish alive, while the Magpies are eyeing third place and could close the gap on Nathalia to just two points with a triumph on Saturday.
Drysdale said defence and match-ups would be key, especially coming up against a Nathalia side that has allowed the fewest goals in the league this season.
“The game will be won defensively. Nathalia have the top defence of any A-grade team, so you can undoubtedly say that their defensive structure and zones are very strong.
“We’ll be training hard to break zones and to ensure that we are on the same page in our attack end, that will be a key focus.
“Our game will be focused as well on match-ups. I think there are particular match-ups that are better than others, so that will be a key focus as well.”
The Magpies will be without one of their up-and-coming youngsters against the Purples, but a familiar face will also return to the court.
“Unfortunately we have had Sienna Agg have to withdraw due to a knee injury, but we will welcome back Fallon Lieschke after her fractured hand, so that will be good,” Drysdale said.
Drysdale said she was hoping Agg, and Liv Taverna, who has also been sidelined with a knee injury, will be back in the team come the finals in two week’s time.
The two sides met back in round two, with Nathalia claiming a comfortable 37-22 win.