Caitlyn Nevins looks for an option. Picture: Mark Calleja
WING attack Caitlyn Nevins says the Firebirds refuse to be intimidated by the daunting scenario to stay in the hunt for Suncorp Super Netball finals.
The Firebirds will take on league-leading GWS in Sydney tonight (FRI) with the Giants coming off a very impressive 56-52 win over the Melbourne Vixens in the top-of-the-table clash last weekend.
The Firebirds need to upset GWS, and hope West Coast produce a boilover win over Collingwood on Saturday to remain in the race for the top four for another week.
A Collingwood win in the second-last round of the regular season would end Queensland’s aspirations for 2017.
“We have great belief,’’ Nevins said.
“It’s all about winning and getting the two points then waiting to see what unfolds with the Magpies.
“We still have finals hopes. We are not giving up on that just yet.
“We know we have a really tough task ahead but we see it as an amazing challenge.’’
Nevins said it was impossible to not be impressed with how GWS dismantled the Vixens, who were on an eight-match winning streak.
“They were brilliant. It is probably their best game so far so we’ve got the Giants at their peak form but I feel like we’ve been building towards our best performance too,’’ she said.
Nevins said the 59-48 win over Adelaide last Saturday night had given the Firebirds plenty to build on.
“We had a lot of creative play at the attack end. We weren’t predictable and kept them guessing. In defence, the girls forced a lot of turnover ball so it was a complete team effort,’’ she said.
Meanwhile, Firebirds training squad member Tara Hinchliffe has been selected in the Australian under-21 side for the Netball World Youth Cup.
Originally published as Firebirds’ Giant finals hurdle
Sport | news.com.au — Australia’s #1 news site
