3 minute read

West Coast Fever are unbeaten in their past five games and goal defence Stacey Francis says they are excited for the challenge of taking on the NSW Swifts.

Unbeaten in their past five games, West Coast Fever realise Saturday's clash with premiers NSW Swifts will give them a genuine gauge of their Super Netball title aspirations.

The Fever are into the top four and just two points behind both the Swifts and Sunshine Coast Lightning on the back of four wins and a draw.

Fever goal defence Stacey Francis said after a slow start the Fever recognised they needed to lift their intensity to make a run for the finals.

"We thought we were starting the season at a good intensity and work-rate but when we sat down and looked at it, it seemed there was a lot more work to be done," the England international said.

"Just that change and that honest and open feedback with each other meant we were able to lift our game."

Francis said they respected the Swifts who they meet in the early game at Brisbane's Nissan Arena, but didn't fear them.

"We'd really like to jump up and beat Swifts so there's no relaxing as we're nearing the pointy end of the season," she said.

The Fever, who are coached by newly appointed Diamonds coach Stacey Marinkovich, are reaping the rewards of a stellar shooting season by Jhaniele Fowler.

The Jamaican ace is dominating the competition with 609 goals from 650 attempts.

"Jhaniele is a world-class shooter, to me the absolute best our game has seen and she's proven she's not a one-trick pony and has taken her game to a brand new level this year which pushes us closer to being an unstoppable team," Francis said.

In other round-12 matches, battlers Collingwood will take on runaway leaders Melbourne Vixens in the later Saturday game in Brisbane.

Sunshine Coast Lightning and Queensland Firebirds square off at Sippy Downs on Sunday followed by the Thunderbirds and Giants in Adelaide.