Townsville Fire will need to achieve what they've failed to do all season if they're to book a second-straight WNBL grand final: beat Dandenong.
Despite edging the Rangers into second spot, the Fire have a 0-3 record against Dandenong through the WNBL season and are the only side they haven't conquered this year.
But ahead of Sunday's preliminary final at Dandenong, Townsville can draw strength from the knowledge they've been here before.
With the same preliminary final lineup last season and the scores tied at three-quarter time, Townsville blew away Dandenong in front of their own fans 26-12 to make the grand final.
Dandenong coach Mark Wright said while that defeat still burns, he doubted it would affect his players.
"Every defeat sticks in my craw not just that one," he said.
"But this is basically a new team - a new season with new players. That defeat is really just mine."
His Dandenong team have certainly improved their attack - led by Opals star Jenna O'Hea averaging more than 20 points a game.
The only player that can top O'Hea will line up for Townsville - two-time WNBL Most Valuable Player Suzy Batkovic.
Not that the Fire are a one-woman team.
"If it was as simple as stopping Suzy, we'd throw five players on her and job done," Wright said.
"They've got a great all-round team. I always thought they'd be here at the pointy end."
"They were great last year and adding Suzy and Steph (Cumming) they became even better."
Despite the loss of Cumming, who played with the Rangers last year, Wright said he was quietly confident his side could put to one side their miserable 71-62 loss to Bendigo last week and set up a grand final rematch.
"You just can't win big games like this unless you get all your star players playing well. Last week we didn't get everyone clicking," he said.
Wright called for greater input from those around O'Hea, including imports Leilani Mitchell and Kayla Pedersen.
"We'll be trying to push and run get the game at the higher tempo," he said.
"That'll be the battle, whoever gets their game plan up the best will win."
The grand final will be hosted by Bendigo Spirit, who have the weekend off, on March 9.
