The Firebirds put in a battling display last weekend in a Queensland derby at Nissan Arena against Sunshine Coast Lightning but were unable to find a much-needed victory as the visitors claimed a 10-goal triumph.
Adelaide meanwhile were upset by basement-dwellers GIANTS Netball, the Thunderbirds' second loss to the Giants this season leaving the back-to-back premiers outside the top four with four wins and five defeats so far this season.
LAST TIME WE MET
The Firebirds came out swinging when these two teams met at Nissan Arena in what was defender Ruby Bakewell-Doran's 50th SSN appearance.
A pair of Suncorp Super Shots by Emily Moore ensured the Firebirds headed into the first quarter break with a lead but the Thunderbirds pulled ahead going into halftime and despite a fourth-quarter fightback inspired by Abigail Latu-Meafou - in her first SSN appearance since 2019 - which brought the margin down to just one goal midway through the last term, the visitors pulled away late to claim a 62-53 win.
TEAM NEWS
With Tippah Dwan (knee) still sidelined, Latu-Meafou will again line-up for the Firebirds against her former club while English international Imogen Allison put in her best performance in a purple dress two weeks after a concussion ruled her out of the Round 7 clash against the Melbourne Vixens.
The Thunderbirds will line-up without star defender Shamera Sterling-Humphrey, who announced her pregnancy at the start of May, with the Jamaican since replaced for the remainder of the season by South African youngster Sanmarie Visser.
KEY MATCHUP - Imogen Allison vs Georgie Horjus
English Rose Allison showed the Nissan Arena crowd just what she can do in a season-best performance last weekend against the Lightning, with the midcourter collecting five gains, four intercepts and three deflections despite the Firebirds suffering a 10-goal loss to their Queensland rivals.
The Firebirds will be hoping Allison can continue that form this weekend against an in-form Georgie Horjus, with the 2024 Suncorp Super Netball player of the year shining against the Giants despite the Thunderbirds' shock loss.
Horjus notched up 100 Nissan Net Points in that game playing across both wing attack and goal attack, scoring two Suncorp Super Shots as well as 22 goal assists and a whopping 47 feeds in a 60-minute display.
KEY STAT
Former Thunderbird Abigail Latu-Meafou is averaging just over eight Suncorp Super Shots per 60min at 62 per cent accuracy so far on her return to the Firebirds this season, ranking her as one of the deadliest two-point threats in the competition.
LAST WORD
"We can sit down and die here or we can stand up and push forward. It was great for us to get that refresh on our values and standards and just hopefully go forward from here and get some wins." - Firebirds co-captain HULITA VEVE outlines the team's attitude heading into the final weeks of the season.
HOW TO WATCH
Watch Saturday’s game live and on demand on Kayo Sports and Foxtel as well as on Binge. International viewers can catch the entire 2024 Suncorp Super Netball season live and on demand via Netball Pass.
