But there is one last obstacle in their way before they can turn their attention to the business end.
The Hoiho play the Whai in Tauranga tonight, one week out from their first Tauihi finals appearance.
They will be without big Ashten Prechtel, who has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a foot complaint.
Caitlin O’Connell, who has provided valuable minutes off the bench this season, will also skip the game to rest her wrist injury.
But there is some good news: captain Samara Gallaher, who missed last week’s game after a heavy knock, will travel with the team.
The Whai, who play two games this round compared to the Hoiho’s one, will be desperate to get the win to remain in the hunt for the final playoff spot.
They are on a two-game winning streak, having beaten the Mainland Pouakai 92-83 and Tokomanawa Queens 85-68 recently.
American import Mikayla Cowling can bang down some big shots from out wide, and well as get herself inside the paint, and Austrian import Sarah Sagerer has been "shooting the lights out" the past few weeks.
"She [has] a slightly different style of play which I enjoy watching, but it’s just a different rhythm with that team," Hoiho coach Todd Marshall said.
"Defensively, we’re going to have to really be on our game.
"Whai have got weapons and some difficult players.
"We’re just going to have to sort out our defence assignments and our defensive attitude for the game, really."
A win for the Hoiho will secure third spot — and possibly higher, but the team need other results to go their way for that. Either way, they will feature in the playoffs in Porirua next weekend.
It has been a remarkable turnaround after they won only one game last season.
"I’m stoked. Heck, we’ve won seven games," Marshall said.
"Take away the Rapid stuff, points from other teams, and we deserve to be there.
"They’ve put a lot of hard work in, and been training for a long time, so it’s just really nice to be able to execute our finals spot and work towards two weeks on."
