The Steel's defensive unit has been described as hardworking this season but a better description would be ineffective.
Harsh? Perhaps, but do not take our word for it. Have a look at the statistics.
The Steel has the second-worst defensive record in the competition and the franchise is on track to record the worst defensive effort in its history.
The Steel's best years on defence not surprisingly coincide with the two seasons Silver Ferns defender Leana de Bruin spearheaded the effort.
The Magic defender played for the Steel in 2010 and 2011 and the Southerners conceded fewer goals those years (597 in 2010, 594 in 2011) than in any other season.
Last year, the Steel coughed up a record 790 goals - that is an average of 60.76 - and this season the Steel has let in 379 goals in six games at an average of 63.16 a game, or 15.79 goals a quarter, which is way too many.
The competition's best defensive team, the Melbourne Vixens, has conceded 268 goals so far - that is 111 fewer goals in total, or 18.5 fewer goals a match.
Of course, the Vixens have Geva Mentor and the Steel has Rachel Rasmussen, Phoenix Karaka, Storm Purvis and Erena Mikaere.
Statistically, Karaka has been the best of the four but is penalty-prone and can run hot and cold. She is still only young but the ANZ Championship is about results, not development.
The other three just have not been able to make an impact. As a defensive unit, the franchise is missing an X-factor player.
The Steel has those type of players at the other end. Shooter Jhaniele Fowler-Reid is a banker. On the rare occasion when she actually misses a shot at goal, she usually grabs the rebound which must make her the most effective shooter in the competition.
She has been getting silver service from Jodi Brown, who is one of the best passers in the game, and midcourter Shannon Francois, who has improved that area of her game.
The problem is, while the Steel is rattling on goals, the franchise is conceding them at an even greater rate.
Games are being lost on defence, where the Steel has won games through defence in the past. The Steel twice made the playoffs (2009 and 2010) in part because it had quality defenders.
The defensive line-up in 2009 featured the experienced Megan Hutton and Silver Fern Katrina Grant. Former Silver Fern Sheryl Scanlan provided back-up, with help from young Te Huinga Reo Selby-Rickit.
The Steel made the top four the following season, when de Bruin and Selby-Rickit formed a formidable duo.
The franchise highlighted defence as an area it needed to lift its game this year if it was going to return to the playoffs. Approaches were made but the Steel was unable to attract a higher calibre player and ended up signing Mikaere, who looks as though she has potential but is spending a lot of time on the bench.
None of the Steel defenders feature in the top 10 for any of the key statistics except for penalties. The unit is just not creating enough turnover ball.
Even the midcourters are out-performing the defenders when it comes to deflections. Phillipa Finch (14), Wendy Frew (11) and Francois (7) have more deflections than Mikaere (6), Rasmussen (5) or Purvis (5).
If the Steel has any hope of keeping its tenuous playoffs prospects alive, it must beat the Pulse in Invercargill tonight.
To do that it must generate more on defence and, at the very least, keep the Pulse to fewer than 60 goals.
That will not be easy, as the Pulse boasts the world's best shooter, Irene van Dyk, and wily goal attack Donna Wilkins.
The Wellington-based side has had little difficulty with the Steel's defence. The Pulse won the round two fixture 67-56 and last season put 73 goals past the defence - the most goals the Steel has conceded in a game.
Hard work is great - and the Steel defenders are working hard. But unless they are making intercepts, grabbing rebounds and making deflections, they are not effective.
Veteran shooter Catherine Cox inspired the Melbourne Vixens to a stunning 56-50 come-from-behind win over the NSW Swifts in Sydney yesterday, while the West Coast Fever kept alive its finals hopes with a 48-42 win over the Queensland Firebirds in Perth, after trailing by three goals at the last change.
In Auckland, the Northern Mystics had to rely on all the experience of 38-year-old ring-in Temepara Bailey to repel a spirited Mainland Tactix 65-62.
ANZ Championship
Steel v Pulse
When: Tonight, 7.40pm.
Where: Invercargill.
Steel: Jhaniele Fowler-Reid, Jodi Brown (captain), Shannon Francois, Phillipa Finch, Wendy Frew, Rachel Rasmussen, Phoenix Karaka, Stacey Peeters, Gina Crampton, Te Paea Selby-Rickit, Storm Purvis, Erena Mikaere.
Pulse: Irene van Dyk, Donna Wilkins, Elias Shadrock, Te Huinga Reo Selby-Rickit, Liana Leota, Claire Kersten, Joline Henry, Gemma Hazeldine, Paula Griffin, Katrina Grant, Katarina Cooper, Ama Agbeze.
