Former Otago Rebel Phillipa Finch might live in Christchurch these days but she still calls Dunedin home.
The 27-year-old midcourter is one of five former Rebels in the Canterbury Tactix team which will play the Steel at the Edgar Centre on Sunday.
Finch, who played 30 matches for the Otago franchise in a career spanning five seasons, moved to Christchurch with her husband, former Pirates rugby player Regan Finch, in January. The couple, who still own a home in St Clair, are living with Anna Thompson, who played for the Rebels in 2007.
Finch is pleased she no longer has to commute from Dunedin to Christchurch but is looking forward to returning.
"It's going to be great playing at home," she said.
"I don't know how I did it [commute], and I don't know how Jodi [Brown] still does it.
"It makes such a difference being up here and being more involved, and having that good recovery time instead of having to fly back to Dunedin.
"It is a little odd [playing for Canterbury]. But it does feel like I've been playing for them for a while, just because the players are so familiar."
Defender Kahurangi Waititi and wiry shooter Angela Mitchell have also worn the Rebels colours. Mitchell was one of the more celebrated Rebels making 32 appearances and landing 558 of her 787 attempts.
Mitchell and Brown combined in the shooting circle for the Rebels in 2007, and Thompson and Finch played in the midcourt. Waititi played alongside Mitchell and Finch in 2006.
With so many former Rebels in the team, the Tactixwill welcome any support with the match shaping as vital for both sides, Finch said.
New Zealand teams have struggled to win in Australia. That makes winning the derbies all that more crucial.
Last season the Steel won 51-42 in Christchurch and the Tactix turned the tables in Invercargill 51-48.
This season both teams have a 50-50 record. The Tactix were 62-45 by the Swifts in Sydney but bounced back to beat the Fever 52-44. The Steel started with a good win against the Pulse but lost to the highly-rated Magic last weekend.
Home teams have won seven of the 10 games this season, with only the Magic, Vixens and the Thunderbirds able to win away.
