Bec Bulley’s team head into the match high on confidence after their best performance of the season last weekend, defeating Giants Netball in Sydney by 18-points at Ken Rosewall Arena.
The Vixens meanwhile suffered their first defeat at home this season with a narrow loss to the in-form NSW Swifts, going down by eight goals at John Cain Arena.
LAST TIME WE MET
Queensland held an eight-point led in the third quarter of their Round Seven clash against the Vixens in Melbourne but a strong finish by the home led to a 72-60 loss for the Firebirds.
A heavy collision which forced Macy Gardner from the court with an injured wrist was the turning point of the game, the Firebirds struggling to recover from the setback as the Vixens scored 25 points to 14 in the final quarter to take the win.
Firebirds’ Diamonds duo Donnell Wallam and Ruby Bakewell-Doran were among the best for the visitors, Wallam scoring 53 goals from 58 attempts while Bakewell-Doran finished with six gains and four interceptions.
TEAM NEWS
Youngster Leesa Mi Mi will be looking to make her first appearance on the Firebirds’ home court after featuring in the past two matches including a start in last weekend’s win over the Giants. Mi Mi has been confirmed as a temporary replacement player for the remainder of the season due to Macy Gardner unfortunately being ruled out for the rest of the 2023 campaign.
The Vixens are unchanged with Kimberly Borger continuing as a temporary replacement player with Rahni Samason ruled out for the season.
KEY MATCHUP – Remi Kamo v Mwai Kumwenda
Firebirds’ first-year player Kamo had the performance of his Suncorp Super Netball career so far against the Giants last weekend, picking up a player of the match award with nine gains, five intercepts and five deflections. If Kamo can put in a similar performance against Vixens’ shooter Kumwenda, who has 423 goals so far this season, it’ll go a long way to the Firebirds’ emerging victorious.
KEY STAT
The Vixens have never lost an away Suncorp Super Netball match against the Firebirds. While the Firebirds defeated the Vixens at Nissan Arena during the COVID-affected 2021 season, they were the away team for that match with the Vixens last losing as the travelling team in Queensland back in the final season of the ANZ Championship in 2016.
LAST WORD
“We always look forward to a challenge and they’ve been playing really well lately so we just have to rise to the occasion as well,” – Queensland Firebirds shooter Donnell Wallam.
HOW TO GET THERE
Tickets are still available via Ticketek. All the information regarding game day is available here.
