Neither team will be under any illusions as to the importance of this contest when the GIANTS meet the Magpies at Melbourne Arena on Sunday.
One look at the Suncorp Super Netball ladder shows you why; with the GIANTS sitting in fifth spot on 31 points, three points behind the Magpies in that all-important fourth spot.
Clashes against the Collingwood team tend to be a good match-up for the GIANTS with the team in orange leading the head-to-head, winning five of six previous meetings and the last four meetings between the teams.
When these two sides met in round three, the GIANTS defeated the Magpies 58-50 in Sydney for their first win of the season.
It seems like a long time ago that these teams last played, with the GIANTS coming off a 57-66 loss to the Vixens in their round nine game to take them to a record of three wins, a draw and five losses.
The Magpies are coming off a 63-50 win over the Firebirds to take their record to four wins, a draw and four losses.
For the Magpies; Diamonds Kelsey Browne, April Brandley and English Rose Geva Mentor return from World Cup duties with the GIANTS having the same number of representatives.
Caitlin Bassett hit great form across the World Cup and was a pillar of strength although the Diamonds never played the Roses so Bassett never took on Mentor as they will this weekend.
In her first World Cup, Jamie-Lee Price spent time in the C position, continuing to find that familiarity with Bassett at GS.
Mentor’s Roses teammate Jo Harten also showed some great form across the 10-day tournament at both GS and GA and looks set to settle back into GA on Sunday.
The GIANTS’ attacking end has the fifth-best attacking record, scoring 58.7 goals per match while the Magpies’ shooting end of Nat Medhurst and Shimona Nelson have the second-worst record scoring 55.7 goals per match.
It will also be a special afternoon for young defender Kristiana Manu’a who will play her 50th elite match, having played 29 matches in the former Trans-Tasman Championship and set to play her 21st Super Netball match on Sunday.
The GIANTS and Magpies go head-to-head on Sunday at 1pm at Melbourne Arena, live on Channel 9.
