MATCH PREVIEW: (Round 10) TACTIX v PULSE

TEAM NEWS:

Is this Silvermoon Tactix side the real deal? A commanding 10-goal win over the SKYCITY Mystics last week suggests they are true contenders for a place in the ANZ Premiership finals series. Their litmus test comes this week when they take on Te Wānanga o Raukawa Pulse in Christchurch. Captain Jane Watson was delighted with the defensive and attacking efforts of all seven players on court.

“I’m really proud of them,” she said.

“We’ve been trying to do this all season, building on a lead and we’ve done that so it’s awesome.”

Backing it up will be a big ask against a Pulse side that loss their second game of the season, suffering a four-goal defeat to the Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel. Unable to find their rhythm in the Deep South (or their first ever win in Invercargill) the Pulse struggled to get enough ball into the hands of star shooter Aliyah Dunn.

They will also want to address their high penalty count before taking on the Tactix. These two teams have met just once this season with the Pulse winning by eight goals. A telling second quarter proved costly for the Tactix back then but they will take a good dose of confidence going into this match-up.

WHO TO WATCH:

Brooke Leaver (Tactix) – has made a strong bid to make the goal attack bib her own with her play in and around the circle. Led the way with goal assists last week and is building a key connection with stand-out shooter Ellie Bird.

Kimiora Poi (Tactix) versus Claire Kersten (Pulse) – the young Tactix centre has been making an impact in recent weeks and faces a real test against Silver Fern Claire Kersten.

Katrina Grant (Pulse) – it was a lead by example performance from the captain last time they played the Tactix, picking up five intercepts, four deflections and two rebounds for the Pulse. Expect Grant to tighten the screws again as the Pulse looks for a win.