Netball: Coach tells Steel players to embrace occasion

The Southern Steel is about to enter unfamiliar territory and its master coach is instructing the side to embrace the occasion as it prepares for one of the biggest games in the franchise's history.

The unbeaten Steel will host the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic in the ANZ Championship New Zealand conference final in Invercargill on Sunday, after completing its most successful regular-season campaign.

It won 11 and drew two of its 13 matches to become just the third team to go through undefeated, and Sunday's final will mark the first time the franchise has hosted a playoff game.

But while the occasion will be a new experience for the Steel players, coach Noeline Taurua is in a very familiar position.

The former Magic coach guided the side to the playoffs in each of her six years in charge and led it to the title in 2012.

There were many knockout matches in front of the home fans during those years and Taurua said there was no point denying the magnitude of the occasion.

"People say you just treat it as another game but it's a big game for us, and I think we need to celebrate the position that we're in and how we've got to that position.''

The Magic has been no match for the Steel so far this season, going down by 10 goals both times the sides have met.

But finals sport can be a mental game and Taurua is aware of the importance of ensuring the occasion does not disrupt her players' execution.

"It's a new experience for a lot of the girls, and it's definitely a learning that we have to go through.

"It's about keeping everything balanced, not only physically but also mentally and emotionally, and looking at things that we really do well out on court.

"We're not really changing what we do from what we've done in the past.''

The Magic has been off the pace for most of the season, especially against the Australian sides, and it would be a clear upset if it was to topple the Steel on Sunday.

But it has slowly improved and comfortably put away the Mystics in the New Zealand conference elimination final over the weekend to show it is the next best Kiwi side.

Many of its players have finals experience and Taurua said that meant the side would believe it could win.

"When it gets to this time, what's happened in the regular season doesn't count for anything.

"We've got huge respect for them in regards to what they're capable of at this end of the campaign, but we also have respect for what we can do.

"We've got to go in with that manner and with confidence in what we do.''

Sunday's practice match against an Otago and Southland men's side provided a good hit-out but the Steel was not at the level it should have been and that was partly due to a mental switch off, Taurua said.

Defender Storm Purvis, who has been struggling with illness for several weeks, again sat out the match and a decision on her availability for the rest of the week is expected today.

Her replacement, Te Huinga Selby-Rickit, has taken her chance and played some brilliant netball, meaning the Steel has not missed a beat.

Taurua was non-committal when asked if Purvis would be able to force her way back into the starting seven if she was fit, given Selby-Rickit's performances.

"If we can get her back as an option, I'd be rapt - taking into account her health, which I think is her overall priority. Whether she's on the court or off it, she offers so much to the team.''

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