The Firebirds will be out to end a run of eight-straight losses to their state rivals and reclaim the trophy that has resided on the Sunshine Coast for multiple seasons.
To wrestle the silverware back to Brisbane, the Firebirds need to defeat the Lightning by at least two goals to overcome the deficit following a heartbreaking one-point loss in the earlier fixture between the teams at UniSC Stadium in Round 2.
In terms of recent form, the Firebirds will be hoping to build on last weekend’s encouraging second-half fightback against the NSW Swifts, where an impressive third-quarter surge gave hope of a come-from-behind victory before the Swifts held on at Ken Rosewall Arena for a six-goal win.
The Lightning, meanwhile, are chasing a victory to keep their slim finals hopes alive after a confident victory over winless GIANTS Netball at home last weekend.
LAST TIME WE MET
The last meeting between the sides was a heart-stopping Queensland derby at UniSC Stadium, with the Lightning edging the Firebirds 63-62 in the Battle of the Bruce.
Despite a quality all-round performance, the Firebirds were ultimately denied in the dying seconds by a clutch Donnell Wallam Suncorp Super Shot, leaving Queensland to rue what was a key moment in a tight contest that could have gone either way.
TEAM NEWS
Young Firebirds shooter Elsa Sif Sandholt will miss the remaining two fixtures of the SSN season due to injury, with her absence meaning Head Coach Kiri Wills has named an unchanged matchday 10 from last week’s squad that faced the Swifts in Sydney.
The Lightning have also named an unchanged 10, with Gabby Sinclair keeping 11th player and former Firebird Tippah Dwan out of the squad. Another ex-Firebird in Donnell Wallam will celebrate her return to the Australian Diamonds squad back on her former stomping ground at Nissan Arena.
KEY MATCHUP – KELLY JACKSON v DONNELL WALLAM
New Zealand international Jackson has been a standout performer for the Firebirds in her maiden SSN campaign. A stray elbow when these teams met in Round 2 left Jackson bleeding with a broken nose just as the game entered its crucial final minutes. Without the Kiwi, Lightning shooter Wallam stood tall in the dying seconds, scoring a last-gasp Suncorp Super Shot to secure the one-point win.
Jackson will be eager to resume hostilities against Wallam under the post and aim to keep the shooter’s influence to a minimum against her former club.
KEY STAT
The Firebirds will be seeking a faster start than in recent games, having failed to win an opening-half quarter in their past five matches. They will be desperate to ensure they are still in the contest going into the last 15 minutes, with the Lightning having failed to win a final quarter in their past seven matches.
LAST WORD
“We've had a look at that game but also our games post that (result) and we've definitely improved on a lot of things but there was things in that game we weren't really happy with so we'd love to get out there on Saturday and change the course.” - Firebirds vice-captain MACY GARDNER says the hurt of that Round 2 one-point loss to the Lightning is something that is spurring on her team heading into this weekend’s derby.
FIREBIRDS SQUAD
Imogen Allison
Ruby Bakewell-Doran (capt)
Mary Cholhok
Lara Dunkley
Macy Gardner
Maddy Gordon
Kelly Jackson
Emily Moore
Te Paea Selby-Rickit
Isabelle Shearer
HOW TO GET THERE
All the information regarding game day is available here.
For fans residing in Australia, you can watch live on Foxtel, Kayo and BINGE.
