The new-look Firebirds will unveil Kiwi recruits Kelly Jackson, Maddy Gordon and Te Paea Selby-Rickit in front of the Purple Family, while the Vixens arrive with a line-up largely unchanged from last season but there is a new face in the coach’s seat after Di Honey succeeded Simone McKinnis following the veteran mentor’s retirement at the end of 2025.
LAST TIME WE MET
The most recent clash between the sides was a finals-like fight in Melbourne, with the Vixens pipping the Firebirds 64-62 at John Cain Arena to secure a top-four finish.
The match swung on momentum bursts - the Vixens’ first-quarter surge, a Firebirds' response to take a one-goal lead into half-time and a tense final-quarter finish where Melbourne managed the moments to hold on.
TEAM NEWS
The Firebirds have no injury concerns heading into Round One, with English midcourter Imogen Allison having recovered from off-season ankle complaints to make the listed 10. Gordon, Jackson and Selby-Rickit are all set to make their Firebirds debuts. Newly-signed 11th player Elsa Sif Sandholt misses out on selection in the matchday 10.
The Vixens have stuck with 11th player Maddie Caris in their selected 10, with Emily Mannix left out despite returning to the squad from maternity leave following the birth of daughter Mabel last year.
KEY MATCHUP – SOPHIE GARBIN vs KELLY JACKSON
Vixens and Australian Diamonds shooter Garbin faces off with New Zealand international Jackson in a trans-Tasman match-up that was a constant battle in last year’s Constellation Cup series between the two nations.
Garbin’s move to the Vixens has seen her develop into one of the competition’s leading goalshooters but Jackson has faced the Aussie enough times at international level to know exactly what she’ll be up against.
If the Silver Fern star can bring her trademark lean and defensive pressure to bear, it’ll be a huge plus for the Firebirds and quickly secure her status with her new Purple Family fans.
KEY STAT
The Firebirds have only won four of 18 SSN matches against the Vixens - all by single-digit scorelines - with the last victory over Melbourne coming in Round 12, 2023.
LAST WORD
“For a first-round match up for us, it’s actually quite a good one. There were a couple of teams we didn’t see in the pre-season, Vixens being one of them, and I’m okay with that. If it had have been one of the other teams with a few new faces, that would’ve been a little bit different.” - Firebirds Head Coach KIRI WILLS is confident her team know what to expect from the unchanged Vixens roster.
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.
