Melbourne Vixens coach Simone McKinnis says playing another finals match will serve her side well after they failed to win through to the Super Netball grand final at the first attempt.
The minor premiers suffered a 56-55 loss to the Sunshine Coach Lightning at Margaret Court Arena on Saturday afternoon.
The Vixens will need to regroup before hosting the preliminary final at Hisense Arena next Saturday against the winner of the minor semi-final between the Giants and Magpies.
The Lightning made it 2-1 against the Vixens this season as they won through to the inaugural Super Netball grand final, which they will host in a fortnight at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre.
McKinnis said she was able to see the positives in her side's major semi-final defeat in front of 3,763 fans.
"I think that they can certainly take a lot from that game," McKinnis said.
"We spoke before the game about finals and that intensity ... they've been learning all year, they will take a lot from that.
"And they know what it takes to play a final."
The game hung in the balance right up until the final minutes.
The Vixens led by two in early in the last quarter but the visiting Lightning finished stronger, thanks to the sharp shooting of Caitlin Bassett who scored 44 goals from 47 attempts in a MVP performance.
The hosts looked to have the game in their grasp midway through the third quarter where they jumped out to a five-goal lead, punctuated by a superb grab from goalkeeper Emily Mannix in front of towering shooter Bassett.
Vixens goal attack Tegan Philip also began to make her mark on the match after a slowish start, courtesy of a string of accurate long bombs and penalties from her opponent Karla Mostert.
But the Lightning fought back to win the final quarter by three goals, and holding out the Vixens for the one-goal win.
"I think it was pretty tight all the way through, there was opportunity at the third quarter when we went five up and we've got to be able to push on from that," McKinnis said.
"I think in the last quarter that our work rate dropped off ... but the last few minutes they pushed back and fought hard for it.
"It was a good hard tough match; it's finals netball.
"I actually see there's benefits of playing again... particularly with this group, to keep it going.
"I'm ok with that."
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