The Firebirds fell agonizingly short of an opening round win last weekend in South Australia, losing to reigning premiers Adelaide by just one point in a heart-stopping match.
It was a poor start to the season for the Giants, soundly beaten on their home court by a rampant West Coast Fever, and Julie Fitzgerald's team will head to Queensland eager to make amends.
LAST TIME WE MET
The Firebirds put in one of their best performances of last season when these two teams last met, claiming an 18-point First Nations Round win at Ken Rosewall Arena in May. Noongar woman Donnell Wallam scored 44 points despite being forced off for a period of the match with a sore finger in the second quarter – passing the 1000 goal mark in her SSN career along the way. Defender Remi Kamo put in a player of the match performance for the Firebirds, with nine gains, five intercepts and five deflections.
TEAM NEWS
The Firebirds are set to take an unchanged lineup into the game having come through their Adelaide trip unscathed. Captain Kim Ravaillion, who came off the bench against Adelaide to make her 150th National League appearance, will be pushing for a starting spot after her successful comeback from off-season back surgery.
The Giants gave debuts to off-season recruits Jodi-Ann Ward and Samantha Winders last weekend against the Fever while English international Chelsea Pitman also featured as a temporary replacement player for injured midcourter Maddie Hay.
KEY MATCH-UP - Jo Harten v Remi Kamo
Experienced Englishwoman Harten is the beating heart of the Giants line-up who shares the captaincy duties with Australian international midcourter Jamie-Lee Price. Despite the heavy loss to the Fever in round one, Harten and fellow goaler Sophie Dwyer combined for 14 Suncorp Super Shots in that match and pose a threat all over the goal circle. Kamo shut down Harten's influence brilliantly when these teams met in Sydney last year and the Firebirds defender was one of the standouts in last weekend's clash with Adelaide, notching five gains, two intercepts and six deflections in a defensive masterclass. If the goalkeeper can get on top of Harten again, it'll go a long way to securing the Firebirds the win.
KEY STAT
Sophie Dwyer will play her 50th Suncorp Super Netball match in Saturday's match. Australian Diamonds teammate Ruby Bakewell-Doran will be doing all she can to spoil the moment when she goes head-to-head with the Giants goal attack.
LAST WORD
"We were happy with our performance in Adelaide but we're not quite satisfied. We really want to get a win and looking forward to having our first home game this weekend against the Giants, really hoping that the crowd will bring us home and we'll get that win," - Firebirds Head Coach Bec Bulley.
HOW TO GET THERE
All the information regarding game day is available here. For fans residing in Australia, you can watch Saturday’s game via Foxtel or Kayo Sports. Meanwhile, international viewers can watch the game via Netball pass. For more information click here.
