The Steel will host a playoff game in the ANZ Premiership and could even play the final on its home court.
With just two rounds left in the competition, the Steel will finish in the top two and therefore will definitely host one playoff game. That was confirmed by Wednesday night's win by the Mystics over the Magic in Rotorua.
The Pulse leads the competition on 22 points, two points ahead of the Steel which is two points behind although it has played a game more.
The Steel has to play the Magic in Auckland on Sunday as part of a Super Sunday promotion, and then finish with a game against the Stars in Auckland on July 29.
Under the format of the competition, the leading team goes straight through to the final with home advantage.
The Pulse would have to be fancied to secure the top spot as it plays the Tactix this Sunday in Auckland before backing up the following night against the Stars. The Pulse's final game is the last game of the regular season against the Mystics in Wellington.
The concern for the Steel may be the long break between games. There are 10 days between its final regular-season game against the Stars and the preliminary final.
But that is a minor quibble as the side seeks to press on and defend the title it won in such emphatic fashion last year.
