Townsville Fire coach Chris Lucas admits there's "still a job to do" after his side produced a defensive masterclass to win game one of the WNBL finals series over the Perth Lynx on Saturday night.
With the 73-57 victory, the Fire have the perfect opportunity to clinch back-to-back championships on Friday night at their home stadium in the best of three series.
The visitors trailed by five points at the final break, before storming home by outscoring the Lynx 28 points to seven in the fourth quarter.
Lucas hailed his sides defensive effort but refused to get carried away.
"Finals are won on the defensive end not the offensive end," Lucas said.
"To hold them to 57 is one of their lowest scores of the year. That's where the game was won and lost.
"There's still a job to do. I'm sure Perth will respond and we would if it was the other way around.
"It's a grand final best of three and the job is still at hand."
Fire centre Carla George, who collected 12 rebounds, said the series was now ideally set up for the reigning champions.
"To win in front of our fans would be huge and they help us at times get over the line," she said.
"Its the ideal situation right now for us."
Perth's final quarter fade frustrated coach Andy Stewart, as well as their shooting which finished at 28 per cent.
The Lynx won in Townsville a fortnight ago in the semi-finals and have no fears about Friday's test.
"I don't think either team fears the other," Stewart said.
"We know we can go there and give it a good showing."
In Perth's first grand final since 1999 against a side playing in their fourth consecutive decider, Stewart said the Lynx would be better for the experience.
"I can't see us being worse off," he said.
"We've just got to look at the tape and go back and go through how we can construct some better looks."
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