West Coast Fever hinted at better times ahead when they emerged as the only unbeaten team in the trans-Tasman netball competition's pre-season Summer Shootout.
Yet to contest an ANZ Championship finals series, the Perth-based Fever went through the three days undefeated in their five matches.
The NSW Swifts denied the Melbourne Vixens an unbeaten weekend by beating the reigning champions in the final game at Sydney's new Netball Central complex at Olympic Park.
The Swifts hauled in an eight-goal deficit early in the second quarter to claim a thrilling 49-46 win.
New Fever coach Stacey Rosman rotated her roster throughout the event and only used gun national team goal shooter Caitlin Bassett in the final quarter of Sunday's 52-41 win over New Zealand's Central Pulse.
"We've been setting little goals and taking little steps forward each and every time we get out there on court," Rosman said.
"We're really pleased with the condition of the team, physically we're running hard and running for four quarters and that's a big thing that we've been aiming for.
"We want to be a four-quarter team and we want our combinations to be seamless and that's what we've been able to put out there."
Close matches were the theme of the final day.
The Queensland Firebirds survived a spirited second half fightback from the Adelaide Thunderbirds to record a 46-44 victory.
Southern Steel claimed their second victory with a 62-60 win over the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic while fellow Kiwis the Tactix also finished their tournament on a high after upstaging the Northern Mystics 55-50.
The 2015 ANZ Championship season gets underway on February 28 when the Adelaide Thunderbirds host the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic.
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