Vixens out to prove they're Giant killers

Jun 8, 2017 - 11:10 PM Captain Kate Moloney says the Melbourne Vixens know what to expect from Giants Netball and she backs her team to thrive in the do-or-die setting of a Super Netball elimination final.

The Vixens are undefeated at their usual home of Hisense Arena this season but suffered a one-goal loss across the road at Margaret Court Arena last week to allow the Sunshine Coast Lightning to advance to the grand final as hosts.

For finishing as minor premiers, the Vixens received a second chance in the finals and face a fast-finishing Giants side in Melbourne on Saturday night.

The Giants tipped Collingwood out last week.

Moloney said the Giants would rate their chances of going all the way to the decider after chasing down a sizeable fourth quarter deficit to run out one-goal victors against the Diamond-studded Magpies.

"We expect the Giants to absolutely come out firing this weekend, they're going to be super confident after their win against Collingwood," Moloney told AAP.

"I think every final, and especially this one this weekend, it's like a grand final.

"We saw it in the Giants Magpies game, there is that increased intensity and that increase in physicality that comes with the game.

"I'm expecting the intensity to step up again and that's what we want. As netballers, we play to play finals. I can't wait to get out there and hopefully win."

Midcourter Moloney said the Vixens had done their homework on the Giants since their round 12 loss away in Canberra and would be ready to put it all on the line, facing elimination for the first time.

In the Vixens attacking department, goal attack Tegan Philip's steely confidence and accuracy far out from goal could prove as a potential game-breaker.

Philip is shooting at 84 per cent accuracy for the season, with many of her shots coming from outside 2.5m.

"We get so much confidence from Tegan because you feed her the ball and she'll turn and shoot from anywhere and most of the time they're going in," Moloney said.

"That provides us with a lot of scoreboard pressure for the other team."

The winner will advance to play Lightning in the grand final at Brisbane Entertainment Centre on Saturday, June 17.

Source: AAP