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The Melbourne Vixens are chasing top spot on the Super Netball ladder but upcoming matches against their two biggest rivals will determine their fate.
The Melbourne Vixens are riding high on a four-match winning streak but coach Simone McKinnis is looking for further improvement from her side in order to challenge for the Super Netball title.
After missing out on the finals last season, the Vixens all but wrapped up a top-four berth with a 12-goal victory over West Coast Fever at Melbourne Arena.
With five wins from their last six matches, Melbourne join two-time defending champions Sunshine Coast Lightning and NSW Swifts in a three-way battle for the minor premiership.
While McKinnis was pleased with her side's overall performance against the Fever, she believes they need to raise their game to another level if they hope to earn a double chance with a top-two finish.
"I think there is more there," McKinnis said after Saturday's 64-52 victory.
"I think today in terms of the way that we were moving the ball ... there were patches there, I didn't enjoy the third quarter at all and patches in the last quarter.
"Some of those little lapses in our ability to compete across 60 minutes is just what is going to be the difference for us, so to maintain that high level and adapting to changes and things that might be happening around us."
Following the Lightning's come-from-behind win over the Swifts on Saturday, just four points separate the top three contenders with three rounds to play.
McKinnis would love to end the regular season in top spot but is more focused on getting the best out of her charges as the finals approach.
"Each time we step out on court now, it's just really pushing the levels and the standards that we can achieve ourselves and knowing that will hold us in good stead wherever that may finish," she said.
With next week's trip to Sydney to tackle the Swifts followed by a home clash with the Lightning, McKinnis knows the Vixen's championship credentials will be put to the test.
"We've got two of the best performing teams in the competition coming in the next two rounds, and including a tough one again (Collingwood Magpies) in the final round but it's in our hands still," she said.
"If we want to finish top, if we want to be playing finals, we want to embrace stepping up and finding new levels in our performance against these top teams."
