Pulse hoping to lift the bar against Steel

Starting the ANZ Premiership netball season with a bang, Te Wānanga o Raukawa Pulse are eyeing another lift in their so-far impressive standards when they meet the Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel tomorrow.

With four straight wins, the Pulse have their sights firmly set on extending their unbeaten record run with a more clinical approach against the ANZ Premiership defending champions.

At the moment, Katrina Grant cuts a very satisfied Pulse captain, but knows better than most the fickle nature of sport and its quickly changing fortunes.

With the exciting melting pot of talent, all at varying stages of their careers, in the Pulse ranks, Grant is not totally surprised with how quickly the team has come together but matter-of-factly states that it will count for little if they don’t kick on.

``I don’t even think we’ve touched on our potential yet,’’ she said. ``I think we can play better than what we are. We are playing well but we’re still a little bit inconsistent, having those lulls in games, so you always strive to be better than what you’re doing. We want to be ruthless. We don’t want people to get close to us, we want to win every game.

``Against Steel, we’ve got to keep being ruthless. It’s all about putting teams under pressure, if we can do that, we know we can really push on and keep going. We just have to do that more consistently.’’

Lithe and loyal, the 31-year-old defender is into her ninth season with the Pulse, describing all teams she has been involved with in the past as ``totally different’’ but there’s no hiding her appraisal and positive expectations surrounding the current crop.

``This one seems the most relaxed but has a real intensity of intent about it. It’s just an all-round committed bunch, so is definitely the most rounded Pulse team I’ve been in,’’ she said.

``It’s a lot of fun being captain of this lot. There is plenty of energy, everyone is just enjoying their netball and making the most of it.

``It’s pretty easy to be happy in an environment like this when everyone’s enjoying themselves on and off the court, you’re winning games and you’ve got someone who you love working with,’’ she said.

The Steel have proved over a long time, and it’s no different this year, that they are battlers and never give in. The southerners are handily-placed in third spot on the table and their history suggests they’ll be up for the challenge.

``It’s always happy campers when you’re winning and we’ve worked hard not to have lost any games yet,’’ Grant said. ``But we’re still really diligent in our analysis and training, so we don’t get complacent. You can’t afford to do that in this league.

``There’s probably going to be a time where people get sick or injured and we just have to make sure that we keep crossing and dotting the important bits.’’

Te Wānanga o Raukawa Pulse v Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel

7:40pm, Te Rauparaha Arena, Porirua

Live on SKY Sport 1 and ANZPremiership.co.nz (outside NZ only)