Tight finish tip for Super Netball decider

Super Netball grand finalists Sunshine Coast Lightning and the Giants are tipped to produce another thriller following two one-goal games earlier this year.

Lightning's Caitlin Bassett catches the ball

All signs point to the inaugural Super Netball grand final serving up another thrilling decider. (AAP)

All signs point to Saturday's inaugural Super Netball grand final between Sunshine Coast Lightning and the Giants serving up another thrilling season decider.

The competition and the two teams are new, but the states they represent and the grand final venue are the same as the last two years, when Queensland Firebirds and NSW Swifts produced two epic encounters.

The Firebirds came from behind to beat the Swifts by one goal in 2015 and vanquished them in a double extra-time marathon last year in the trans-Tasman competition.

Toss in the fact that the two regular-season fixtures between the Giants and Lightning were each decided by one goal and it seems highly likely the Brisbane Entertainment Centre will host a grand final thriller for a third straight year.

Lightning shooter Caitlin Bassett said her team had broached the subject of potentially playing extra-time.

"I've played in a few extra-time games (for Australia) and it is a little bit stressful," Bassett said.

"No doubt it might come down to that because we've got two really tight teams."

The prolific shooter declared the Lightning were "ready to rock and roll" after having a week off following their major semi-final win.

"We've likened it to a simmering pot and we've put it down on low," Bassett said.

"But come game day we're going to turn it back up to boil."

The Giants had to play an extra finals game with coach Julie Fitzgerald not changing her starting seven at any stage of either match.

"It's been an enormous effort from the Giants' seven players on court," Diamonds' coach Lisa Alexander told AAP.

"So players will have to be really well recovered to take on the Lightning, who have had the advantage of the rest."

While Bassett, midcourter Laura Langman and defender Geva Mentor are the stars of the Sunshine Coast side, Fitzgerald was wary of their lesser-known teammates.

"What's made them successful is the way (the three stars) have been supported by the players around them," Fitzgerald said.

'Some of them are quite inexperienced, but they've really stepped up to play along with those superstars."

Alexander was particularly looking forward to seeing how Lightning's defence handled the Giants' attacking trio of Jo Harten, Susan Pettitt and Kristina Brice.

Both teams are affiliated to major football clubs - the Lightning to perennial NRL contender Melbourne Storm and the Giants to emerging AFL power Greater Western Sydney..

The match is being played in Brisbane as the Lightning's stadium isn't big enough to host a grand final

Fitzgerald wasn't worried about playing in front of what will still be a pro-Lightning crowd, pointing to the Giants' 6-1 record outside NSW this year.


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Source: AAP



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