A big challenge looms for the Pulse in their showdown with the Tactix. Photo: PhotoWellington
Desperation will clash with determination when Te Wānanga o Raukawa Pulse meet the Tactix in a crunch ANZ Premiership netball league match in Wellington on Sunday.
Both teams come into the match from entirely different perspectives but a win for either remains paramount in helping shape their destiny.
For the Pulse, who need a win to keep their season alive, it’s a simple equation. They currently have a tenuous hold on third place with the Southern Steel in hot pursuit in the chase for a top-three spot.
On the other side, the Tactix will want to finish top of the pole heading into the Finals Series and presently have a slim one-point advantage over defending champions, the Northern Mystics at the head of the table.
``I want to see a bit of heart from our side,’’ Pulse captain Kelly Jackson said. ``Our season’s on the line here and we know the result has great importance to our chances of nailing that Elimination Final spot.
``The great thing is we only played the Tactix two weeks ago (11-goal loss), so they’re still fresh in our minds. We walked away knowing what we could have done better in that performance, so now it’s just up to us to implement those learnings.’’
With just the one loss, the Tactix have been the most consistent team in the league while the Pulse have produced a mixed bag, their inconsistencies highlighted by the recent one-goal loss to Steel. The result consigning the Pulse to a third straight loss.
``Obviously, the loss against the Steel was heart-breaking, especially considering we did build a lead against them and we let that slip. I think this weekend we need to focus on what we can control,’’ Jackson said.
``We can’t change the results of the past few weeks but what we need to do is learn from them and as power going into the weekend against the Tactix.’’
Needing to dig themselves out of a deep hole, the Pulse now have a prime opportunity to do just that.
``The frustrating piece is that we haven’t reached the potential we know we’re capable of,’’ Jackson said. ``We acknowledge the importance of the result this weekend and we have the belief that we can put out a performance that we know we’re capable of.
``In terms of consistency, if we look at different areas…..we need discipline on defence and increasing our urgency across the court, both on attack and defence. We need to be able to take advantage and really nail those crucial moments.
``I probably haven’t felt as dominant as I have in past years but I know that as a defensive unit when we get firing, we’re unstoppable, so we just need to find that spark again.’’
The Pulse find themselves in the grip of the realities of the new format of the two-round season.
``It’s going to be over in the blink of an eye and has just shown how crucial each game is, in terms of being able to accumulate points because before you know it, the season’s over and you’re at Finals time,’’ Jackson said.
``It has taken time to adjust to that and you do feel a considerable difference in going from a three-round competition to two rounds. There’s not much time to muck around.’’
Ends
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