The Firebirds are eager to bounce back in front of their Purple Family after last weekend's loss to the Melbourne Mavericks, and move level with the seventh-placed Giants on the ladder in terms of points.
The Giants took an early lead against their Sydney rivals the NSW Swifts last weekend before succumbing to a nine-goal loss to their high-flying opponents.
LAST TIME WE MET
The Firebirds made a winning start to life under Head Coach Kiri Wills with a 62-57 victory at Ken Rosewall Arena in the opening round back in April.
Mary Cholhok, Imogen Allison and Ashlee Barnett all debuted for the Firebirds made a winning start to an SSN season for the first time since the competition started in 2018.
Midcourt dynamo Macy Gardner was the player of the match in an all-action display which included 10 goal assists, 27 feeds, three gains and six deflections.
TEAM NEWS
Firebirds Futures leadership group member Danielle Taylor could make her Suncorp Super Netball debut after being elevated as a replacement player for Hulita Veve after the Tongan international suffered a season-ending ACL injury at training earlier this week.
Taylor, a HART Premier Netball League Sapphire division premiership winner with the TAE Aerospace Jets last season, will add a defensive midcourt option for Wills.
The Firebirds have also confirmed goal attack Tippah Dwan will sit out the remainder of the season with an ongoing knee complaint, with Abigail Latu-Meafou to continue as her replacement player.
The Giants have been bolstered by the mid-season addition of veteran New Zealand defender Casey Kopua in place of injured Jodi-Ann Ward while Sunday's game will also be co-captain Jo Harten's 200th National League fixture.
KEY MATCHUP - Mary Cholhok vs Casey Kopua
The Firebirds goal shooter made an instant impact in Round One facing off against Jodi-Ann Ward and Erin O'Brien. Cholhok will have a different challenge this weekend against veteran ex-Silver Fern Kopua who has proven to be a smart piece of mid-season recruitment after replacing Ward following the Jamaican's season-ending ACL injury. Despite being 40 and having retired six years ago, Kopua has been an ever present in the Giants defence since her recruitment, helping the club pick up two wins in four matches. Cholhok will know she's facing a wily and experienced competitor on Sunday and will have to be at her best against a defender who clearly has what it takes to compete with the best.
KEY STAT
The Firebirds have won four of their past five meetings against the Giants and have won their past three Round 12 matches.
LAST WORD
"She's an incredible player. She has so much maturity and experience out on court. She really is the anchor for them in the attack line. It's always a great battle. It's going to be a lot of fun, and I'm really looking forward to it." - Firebirds co-captain RUBY BAKEWELL-DORAN is preparing for another exciting one-on-one contest against Giants goal attack Jo Harten in the Englishwoman's 200th national league appearance.
HOW TO GET THERE
All the information regarding game day is available here. For fans residing in Australia, you can watch Sunday’s game via Foxtel, Kayo Sports or Binge. Meanwhile, international viewers can watch the game via Netball pass.
