It might go against the grain to cheer for a team from Auckland - but Southern Steel fans will doing just that be tonight.
A win for the Northern Mystics over the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic would guarantee the Steel a top-two finish on the ANZ Premiership table and therefore a home playoff match.
Claiming top spot - and a direct route to a home final - seems unlikely.
However, if the Steel is able to lock in second-place, it will host the third-placed team in the preliminary final on August 8.
The Steel, on 20 points, has clinched a playoff spot, although the Magic can still tie that should it win each of its remaining four games.
A solitary point in either of its final two games would putthe Steel it out of reach.
The easiest way to achieve both would be to beat the Magic in Auckland on Sunday, the last Super Sunday of the season.
A first-place finish remains possible.
It would need to win its last two games - against the Magic and Northern Stars - and count on the Central Pulse losing its final three matches.
That seems unlikely, leaving Wellington the likely destination for the final.
In the scrap for the final playoff spot, all four trailing teams remain alive. The Tactix leads the way on 15 points, although has only two games left and cannot catch the Steel.
The fourth-placed Magic has 12 points, but has four games to go and a potential eight points to accumulate.
Behind them the Mystics have 11 points and also have four games remaining.
The Northern Stars are also on 11 points, although have only three games to make up the difference.
