The Firebirds will be aiming to turn a quality performance into competition points after an agonising 63-62 loss to the Sunshine Coast Lightning in last weekend Suncorp Super Netball action.
The Firebirds left UniSC Arena empty-handed despite plenty to like in the performance and they now face another major test in front of the Purple Family at Nissan Arena.
In contrast, the Thunderbirds have made a blistering start to their campaign, defeating West Coast Fever in Adelaide last weekend to make it two wins from two matches for Tania Obst’s team.
LAST TIME WE MET
The last meeting between the sides was a fierce contest at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre, with the Firebirds producing a gutsy display before falling 65-58 to the back-to-back premiers. Queensland trailed by just one goal heading into the final quarter and even levelled the scores at 51-all in the closing stages, but Adelaide’s championship class told late as the Thunderbirds pulled away. Abigail Latu-Meafou was electric against her former side with six Suncorp Super Shots, while Ruby Bakewell-Doran starred in defence with six gains and five intercepts.
TEAM NEWS
Firebirds 11th player Elsa Sif Sandholt comes onto the bench with training partner Sasha Flegler dropping out. Sandholt, who debuted for the Firebirds in last year’s Round 14 epic against the NSW Swifts at Nissan Arena, will provide an extra shooting option for Head Coach Kiri Wills.
Defender Kelly Jackson is fit to play despite coming off in last weekend’s game against the Lightning with a bloodied nose following an accidental collision under the post. Midcourter Maddy Gordon remains sidelined with a hamstring injury.
Unsurprisingly, the in-form Thunderbirds head to Brisbane with an unchanged squad from their win over the Fever.
KEY MATCHUP - KELLY JACKSON v ELMERE VAN DER BERG
South African shooter van der Berg has been an instant hit in pink for Adelaide fans, leading the league with 117 goals from her first two SSN matches - 21 clear of her nearest rival in the standings.
The Firebirds will be relieved Jackson’s bloody exit from last weekend’s clash with Lightning did not have any long-term repercussions and the Silver Ferns international will be charged with putting a halt to van der Berg’s red-hot start to her Thunderbirds career.
If Jackson can bring her trademark physicality, timing and defensive presence to the contest, it will go a long way towards disrupting one of the hottest attacking combinations in the competition.
KEY STAT
Adelaide’s red-hot start to 2026 has them as the early pacesetters in the SSN, but the Thunderbirds have won just two of their previous nine Round 3 SSN matches. The only two seasons they have won a Round 3 match - 2023 and 2024 - the Thunderbirds have gone on to win the premiership.
LAST WORD
“We have stepped it up this week at training. The girls have gone really well. We have isolated some bits and pieces that we think are really critical for a game like the Thunderbirds and the way that they do things and we'll put that out there on court and execute on Sunday.” — Firebirds Head Coach Kiri Wills is confident her team is prepared for the challenge of welcoming the unbeaten Thunderbirds to Nissan Arena.
HOW TO GET THERE
All the information regarding game day is available here.
Tickets are on sale now via Ticketek, with seats still available - secure yours here.
