But neither are the Northern Mystics.
Coach Reinga Bloxham believes that could be a good thing, as her Steel players continue to build from their much-improved performance against the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic last week.
It was an ugly meeting the last time the Steel played the Mystics. The Steel fell to a brutal 64-38 loss — but it gets another chance in Dunedin tonight.
Keep in mind Eseta Autagavaia had been in the mix mere weeks, experienced Te Huinga Reo Selby-Rickit was sidelined with the calf niggle and Saviour Tui was still out because of her knee.
Tui has been a revelation since her return and is expected to play at least three quarters, and the connections to Autagavaia are coming along.
The Mystics were slick and speedy in round one and have dropped only one game this season — to the Magic — in an extra-time thriller.
But they will be without captain Sulu Fitzpatrick, ruled out with a knee injury sustained last week. Her replacement is Northern Marvels defender Catherine Hall.
"When we played them last time we focused on them a lot but I think things have changed for us," Bloxham said.
"We’ve really had to sort of look at ourselves and focus on ourselves and make sure we know exactly what our own job is."
Kate Burley has been a standout for the Steel at keeper, sitting second in the league for defensive rebounds (9), eighth for deflections (18), and 10th for intercepts (6).
Grace Nweke is a big target for the Mystics at the back and the Steel needs to apply pressure early and stop the ball before it reaches her, to give Burley more of an opportunity.
"I think last time we were so caught up in doing our own thing that we didn’t actually think about what our job was [outside the circle].
"Their job is actually to slow down that feeding, slow down the possession, try and hold it up and contest the ball as much as they can, so that by the time the feed goes in, it’s really under pressure."
It has been a tough start to the season for the Steel, suffering its longest ANZ Premiership losing streak of eight games, including three games from last season.
There have been glimpses, especially in the past two weeks, of the Steel way. During the 54-49 loss to the Magic, the Steel posted its highest total this season, treasured the ball more on attack and picked up more on defence — but still squandered the opportunity to win the game.
"There was a couple of moments in the third quarter, and particularly in the fourth quarter, that we could have gone ahead," Bloxham said.
"I think this week the step-up needs to be making sure that we are still really consistent in what we’re doing.
"I think even though we did improve there’s still room to grow there."
Players needed to break each quarter down further, mixing up the centre passes or structure, to continue thinking about their immediate roles instead of the quarter outcome, she said.
Tonight is the Steel’s first home game in Dunedin and is timely, playing for the Georgie Salter Memorial Trophy on the court where she coached Southern and Waitaki Girls’ numerous times.
"It’s really awesome to be able to connect back to those sort of Otago roots and play that game in front of what I would deem to be like her home court.
"We’re looking forward to being there and really looking forward to being able to get back out on the court and show that we’re a better side that showed up on round one."
Bloxham will bring up her 100th game coaching the Southern Steel today.
