The Firebirds are coming off an emotional 12-goal loss to the Melbourne Mavericks last weekend and have a new-look coaching team at the helm with former Firebird Katie Walker and Roselee Jencke to lead the team as co-coaches for the remainder of the 2024 Suncorp Super Netball season.
The second-placed Fever defeated the NSW Swifts in front of a bumper RAC Arena by seven goals and head to Queensland eager to keep up the pressure on table-topping Melbourne Vixens.
The Firebirds will be wearing their 2024 First Nations dress for Saturday's game. A players’ favourite, the eye-catching dresses are being auctioned to raise funds for Netball Queensland’s Diamond Spirit program - which uses netball as a vehicle to engage, empower and educate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in remote and regional communities across Queensland. The auction is currently live and for more information click here.
LAST TIME WE MET
The Fever were in a rampant mood when these teams last met in Perth in May, romping to a 94-58 win over the Firebirds.
The Friday night match was a tough one for the Firebirds, with the Fever scoring 20 or more goals in every quarter on their way to a 36-point win.
Midcourters Lara Dunkley and Macy Gardner were among the better performers for the Firebirds, with Gardner one of just two players - including defender Ruby Bakewell-Doran - to play the full 60 minutes for the visitors.
TEAM NEWS
The Firebirds are sticking with the same 10 which took on the Mavericks last weekend including 22-year-old midcourter Maddi Ridley, who made her SSN debut as a temporary replacement player for injured Kim Ravaillion.
The Firebirds captain remains sidelined with a lower-leg injury meaning Ridley - now Firebird No.113 - will deputise for a second straight week.
The Fever have also named an unchanged lineup including fleet-footed centre Kelsey Browne, who missed the clash between the teams earlier in the season with knee soreness.
KEY MATCHUP - Donnell Wallam vs Fran Williams
With Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard down the other end of the court for the Fever, it will be important for Firebirds goal shooter Donnell Wallam to attempt to match the Jamaican's scoring output if the Firebirds are to cause an upset.
The Diamonds star will be matching up against English international Williams, who sits second in the league with 20 defensive rebounds this year and has formed a fearsome defensive pairing with Sunday Aryang so far this season.
Wallam sits second behind Fowler-Nembhard for goal scoring in the league with 427 goals and Firebirds fans will be hoping for a big day for the popular shooter.
KEY STAT
Fowler-Nembhard's impressive accuracy - she scored 75 goals at 98 per cent in last weekend's win over the Swifts - means the Firebirds defence has to pounce on any missed shots should they come. Goalkeeper Remi Kamo has hauled in 16 defensive rebounds so far this season to stand fifth in the league for that statistic, and will be eyeing off adding to that number on Saturday.
LAST WORD
"I see it as wildly exciting. It's a fantastic opportunity to coach such an incredible group of athletes and this week has been exceptional. Really enjoying being out there with them and really steering them into this game against Fever on Saturday." - Firebirds co-coach Katie Walker ahead of her first match since stepping into the role.
HOW TO GET THERE
All the information regarding game day is available here. For fans residing in Australia, you can watch Sunday’s game via Foxtel or Kayo Sports. Meanwhile, international viewers can watch the game via Netball pass. For more information click here.
