The Magic left no doubts of their potency with a compelling performance to send the high-flying Melbourne Vixens tumbling to their first loss of the season in last Monday's 10th round clash.
However, how the table-topping Magic deal with the competition's minnows will be just as much a test of character.
"This outing looms as a really important one for us," standout defender Casey Williams said.
"It will be our real test of whether we won (against Vixens) just because it was a big game.
"We have not yet strung four quarters together. When we got up by 11 against the Vixens, that was brilliant and that's what we should be able to do the whole time.
"If we could put that particular passage against the Vixens out in a whole game against the Pulse, it would be fantastic."
Knowing there is still a challenging road ahead, there was muted celebration after the Vixens colours were lowered. But there was also the over-riding feeling the Magic had turned a significant corner.
Far from clinical and even messy at times, the Magic impressed with their tenacity in a demanding challenge. The ability to find the balance between open, fluid movement and the dour arm wrestle needed to soak up pressure was pivotal to the Magic's win but has been a long time coming.
"I know it's taken us a while to get here but that's only the start - the party's just begun," Williams said of the team's progress.
"The whole mindset of just committing to Magic for the benefit of the team and not so much for the benefit of individual satisfaction is really developing and is a big shift from last year."
Williams continues to leave her imprint on the competition in another stellar season.
She tops the ANZ championship statistics for the most defensive rebounds so far - 30, with Sonia Mkoloma - and for the most deflections.
She also has the most intercepts of the league with a massive 36, 14 ahead of her nearest rival, Laura Geitz (Queensland Firebirds).
Relishing a switch to the ranging role of goal defence this year, the long-limbed defender has continued to make big statements on court but is decidedly understated off it.
"I'm still learning the role," she said.
"Most of the time I don't really know what I'm doing but I just remember something you get told as a kid, which is `stick to your partner like glue' but also stick to the game plan for the benefit of the team.
"But I'm ready for it... I love it. It's something new and I enjoy it which is all I want out of it."
Williams laughs off the rave reviews she receives from all quarters on a weekly basis, deflecting the credit to her team-mates for setting her up for all the ball she gets.
Set to turn 24 in a week, Williams is already being talked about as New Zealand's best defender ever.
