The pair come into the 10 to replace injured duo Macy Gardner (calf) and Imogen Allison (ankle) and add a fresh chapter to a match that already carries plenty of history. Both Flegler and Laga'aia are Queensland Firebirds Futures Academy athletes and Queensland Firebirds training partners, and both have previously been part of Firebirds matchday squads without yet making their SSN debuts.
Third-year training partner Flegler arrives with an impressive resumé, having been named MVP of last year’s HART Premier Netball League Grand Final as she helped Bond University Bull Sharks to the premiership. Born and raised in Tully in Queensland’s far north, the 20-year-old was part of Australia’s Commonwealth Youth Games gold medal triumph in 2023 and has also represented the Firebirds at the 2024 and 2025 Suncorp Team Girls Cup pre-season tournaments.
Laga'aia’s journey has been just as compelling. After moving to Queensland from Sydney after missing out on an academy team in New South Wales, the 26-year-old Samoa Tifa Moana international has developed into one of the state’s premier midcourters, claiming the Katie Walker Medal as HART Premier Netball League player of the year twice.
Now in her first season as a Firebirds training partner, Laga'aia was an unused substitute in last year’s First Nations Round clash against the Melbourne Vixens and now has the chance to take the next step.
The squad announcement comes against the backdrop of a special afternoon for the club, with Saturday’s match also part of a celebration of the Firebirds’ landmark 30th season. Several alumni are set to attend, including members of the 2011 and 2016 premiership-winning teams, giving an added sense of occasion as the current playing group looks to build on a competitive display in Perth last weekend.
The Firebirds pushed West Coast Fever all the way before falling by four goals, while the Swifts were also left disappointed after a battling showing against the Melbourne Vixens at Ken Rosewall Arena.
LAST TIME WE MET
The last meeting between the sides produced one of the most dramatic contests of the 2025 season, with the Firebirds edged out 79-75 by the Swifts after extra time at Nissan Arena.
A quartet of Suncorp Super Shots by Emily Moore and Mary Cholhok had put the Firebirds in front with less than a minute to play before New Zealand superstar Grace Nweke's late goal forced the match into extra time. The Swifts then pulled clear in the added period to claim the win in a game that witnessed Elsa Sif Sandholt and Dani Taylor both make their Firebirds debuts.
TEAM NEWS
Flegler and Laga'aia come into the Firebirds squad to replace Gardner, who is facing approximately four weeks out with a calf strain picked up against Fever, and Allison, with the English international expected to be okay to return from ankle soreness for next weekend’s clash with the Melbourne Mavericks in Brisbane.
The Swifts are also battling key absences, with goaler Helen Housby sidelined for an indefinite period due to a back injury and Australian international Paige Hadley on maternity leave. Academy product Nicola Barge will continue in place of Housby, while Gina Crampton is Hadley’s ongoing replacement in the midcourt. Former New Zealand international Katrina Rore will make a second appearance as a temporary replacement player with defender Sarah Klau (quad) still unavailable for the Swifts.
KEY MATCHUP – LARA DUNKLEY v SHARNI LAMBDEN
With regular midcourters Maddy Gordon, Gardner and Allison all unavailable, a lot of responsibility falls on the shoulders of Firebirds vice-captain Lara Dunkley this weekend.
Dunkley played a full 60 minutes against Fever, racking up 30 feeds and a team-best haul of 76 Net Points. Her ability to get on top of fellow former Vixen Lambden in the midcourt battle will be crucial to ensure the Firebirds can work the ball through to the circle and make the most of their attacking opportunities.
KEY STAT
The Firebirds and Swifts are both celebrating their 30th season and were inaugural members of the Commonwealth Bank Trophy in 1997, forming a rivalry that has included epic grand final clashes across the years. The Swifts hold the historical edge, winning 40 of the 62 matches between the clubs, with one draw across that 30-year span.
LAST WORD
“It isn't light on us that every game going forward is a must-win. It's crucial that we finish the 60 minutes on top, we can't walk away thinking 'oh we did this okay, we did this okay, we can try again next week'. There's going to be a point where there isn't a next week and we've got to really just go out there and perform, really connect and make sure we're not having any lapses.” - Firebirds defender KELLY JACKSON admits the time is now for the club to start turning performance into wins as the season nears the halfway point.
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.
