MATCH PREVIEW (R8): STARS v PULSE

TEAM NEWS:

Northern Stars captain Grace Kara had a grin a mile wide after her charges finally netted their first win in the ANZ Premiership this season and says it will be give her side “huge confidence”. “It was really nice to get the reward for the effort,” she said after victory over the Silvermoon Tactix. “We’ve come close now a few times so it’s nice to get the win on the board.” But it will get much harder in Round 8 when they face Te Wānanga O Raukawa Pulse in Porirua. It is the first time these two teams have met and Kara said despite enjoying their maiden win, they would have some areas to address before taking on the Premiership frontrunners. “We came out with the win but we’ve got a bit to work on in terms of just consolidating the ball we do get.” The Stars were not the only ones to enjoy that winning feeling with Pulse captain Katrina Grant admitting it was nice to “get back in the winning circle” after the loss to the SKYCITY Mystics. The Pulse were back to their best in Round 7 and pose a huge challenge for the Stars.

WHO TO WATCH:

Katrina Grant (Pulse) – a rejuvenated Pulse captain is back to her best and dominated against the Waikato-BOP Magic last week, with seven intercepts, three deflections and one rebound.

Whitney Souness (Pulse) versus Fa’amu Ioane (Stars) – a cracking match-up between two form players with Ioane a stand-out in the Stars’ first win last week, while Souness has been a play-maker up front for the Pulse.

Holly Fowler (Stars) – the young Stars centre was in the thick of action against the Tactix as she continues to learn her craft in the pivotal role. Faces another big test against Silver Fern Claire Kersten.