Table-toppers Queensland Firebirds will enter the playoffs on a 10-game winning streak after trouncing Kiwi outfit Southern Steel in their final ANZ Championship netball regular season match.
Already assured of hosting the Australian conference final next Sunday, the Firebirds maintained their momentum with a 66-50 win, as their Jamaican shooter Romelda Aiken finished with 49 goals, passing 500 season goals for the third year in a row and fifth time in her career.
The Firebirds now await the winner of Friday's Australian conference elimination final between the second-placed NSW Swifts and third-placed West Coast Fever at Sydney Olympic Park.
All is not lost for the young Steel team who have cemented third spot in the New Zealand conference and a place in their elimination final after rivals Central Pulse lost to Adelaide Thunderbirds earlier on Sunday.
In front of another packed home crowd of 3200, the Firebirds took a 16-13 first quarter lead, with the Aiken-Gretel Tippett goal circle duo again proving one of the most dangerous in the league.
Queensland stretched their advantage to 30-23 at halftime before the Southern Steel cut the host's lead to just three goals in the early stages of the third quarter.
However, a well-called time out saw the Firebirds' lift their energy.
They finished with 21 goals for the quarter, opening a 51-33 lead going into the final quarter.
Defenders Clare McMeniman and captain Laura Geitz were instrumental in containing the Steel's dangerous shooters Jhaniele Fowler-Reid (29 of 36) and Te Paea Selby-Rickit (17 of 24).
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