They have started the season with a record of four wins and one loss and sit at the top of the ANZ Premiership table.
It is the first time they have held top spot since round one 2022 — and have only snuck inside the top three once, last year in third after round two.
They are on a four-game winning streak, their longest run since round 11 to 15 in 2021, when they won five in a row.
Can they equal that run tomorrow?
The Steel come up against the struggling Central Pulse in Wellington, in what is a must-win situation for the home team, who sit fifth with one win and four losses.
They have struggled for consistency this season and fell 54-47 to the Steel in Invercargill earlier this month.
They have lost all their games by single digits this season and are on a four-game losing streak.
If they lose tomorrow, that makes it five and equals their longest losing streak in the ANZ Premiership, from round eight to 12 in 2021.
But the Steel — who play the Pulse and the Magic twice in one month — really are on top and will make life hard.
They have won the past two games against the Pulse and lead many of the statistics across the league.
Aliyah Dunn is the most accurate shooter in the competition, sitting at 96.7% from the one-point zone, and her shooting partner, Georgia Heffernan, sits third for centre pass receives (95).
Serina Daunakamakama is fourth for centre pass receives (89) and feeds (161), while Kimiora Poi is fifth for feeds (157) and eighth-equal for intercepts (six).
Carys Stythe is having another standout season and is second for deflections (30), third for defensive rebounds (nine), and eighth-equal for intercepts (six).
The Mainland Tactix play the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic in Christchurch this afternoon.
The Tactix sit second on the table and have added former Silver Fern Gina Crampton to their squad, while the Magic are winless after five rounds.
The Northern Mystics will be looking for revenge in their clash against the Northern Stars tonight. The Mystics, who have jumped the Stars for third spot, lost to the Stars in the opening round 63-59.
ANZ Premiership
Wellington, tomorrow, 4pm
Southern Steel: Aliyah Dunn, Georgia Heffernan, Josie Bingham, Serina Daunakamakama, Kimiora Poi, Ashleigh Poi, Renee Savai’inaea, Carys Stythe, Khayne-Lii Munro-Nonoa, Jess Milne.
Central Pulse: Ine-Marí Venter, Ameliaranne Ekenasio, Khiarna Williams, Lili Gorman-Brown, Emma Thompson, Erana Ngarimu, Ainsleyana Puleiata, Parris Mason, Madi Thomas, Holly Comyns.
