The Steel annihilated the Tactix 75-56 when the sides met during round two, and broke several records in the process.
Steel shooter Jhaniele Fowler announced her arrival with an ANZ Championship record haul of 65 goals. She added a further seven goals to the previous record of 58 goals jointly held by fellow Jamaicans Carla Borrego (Thunderbirds) and Romelda Aiken (Firebirds).
The Steel's total of 75 goals was also a franchise record, surpassing the 66 goals it scored against the Tactix in May, 2010. The 19-point win was the Steel's fourth highest winning margin. But despite the gulf between the two sides, experienced wing defence Wendy Frew believes the Tactix still represent a serious threat.
''I think the Tactix have improved a lot,'' Frew said.
''They've got a good side and lots of potential if they put it out there on the day. We know we have had a big win against them but that was a long time ago and lots of things have changed.
''We won't be taking it easy against them.
Defensively, the Tactix had no answer to Fowler's height and were unable to prevent Jodi Brown, Phillipa Finch and Courtney Tairi providing the 1.98m goal shoot with a constant stream of ball.
There is not a lot of evidence to suggest the Tactix have lifted the their defence greatly since that huge defeat. The Cantabrians are the second-worst in the championship, conceding an average of 66.8 goals per match.
The Steel's strengths are at the attacking end and it boasts the second-best attacking record, with 61.3 goals per match. The Steel also has the best shooting accuracy, landing 91.5% of its attempts.
But in the last two weeks, the Steel has come up against tough defensive units in the Vixens and the Magic and lost both games. If the Tactix are going to stop the Steel, then inexperienced defender Jane Watson and rookie Zoe Walker will have to play above themselves - literally. At 1.81m, they both give up 17cm to Fowler.
Fellow defender Joanna Trip might be a better option. At 1.88m, she is the tallest of the Tactix defensive quartet.
If the Tactix can assert some defensive pressure, then they will need to make more of their opportunities at the other end, as well. England international Jo Harten carries a heavy scoring burden. She has landed 320 of her 374 attempts at a useful 85.6%.
In past seasons that would have been pretty impressive, but the bar has been lifted and the competition's best shooters are scoring at more than 90% or very near 90%.
When Harten is not shooting, the Tactix' success rates drop alarmingly. Sophia Fenwick, who has had to step up with Julianna Naoupu struggling for confidence, has scored 156 of her 228 attempts at 68.4%. Naoupu has scored 58 from 78 (74.4%).
The Tactix have actually put up the second highest number of shots in the competition but have not been accurate enough to win more matches.
''They're obviously getting turnovers throughout the court. They just can't finish it off,'' Frew said.
''I'm sure that is something they'll be working on and they will be well aware that they've been getting enough possession to win games.''
Before the Steel's losses to the Vixens and Magic, the team had won four games in a row and was on track to secure a place in the playoffs. That spot is now in jeopardy. All the Steel can do is keep winning and hope other results go its way.
A loss to the Tactix would spell the end of what seemed like an unlikely dream at the beginning of the season. The game will see a couple milestones raised. Tactix captain and Anna Thompson will play her 75th ANZ Championship match and Fowler needs another four goals to reach 500 for the season.
She will be just the fourth player after Irene van Dyk (2008, 2010, 2012), Romelda Aiken (2009, 2011) and Carla Borrego (2010) to have scored 500 goals or more in a season.
ANZ Championship
Steel v Tactix
Where: Edgar Centre
When: 7.20pm
Record: Played 11, Steel 8, Tactix 3
