OUYEN United shooter Maggie Smith will return to the court on Sunday to give the Kangas an extra lift as they begin their finals campaign against South Mildura.
It’s do or die for both teams, with the loser eliminated.
While pleased her side will have the home-court advantage, Ouyen United coach Kyra Nathan said she was “nervous” ahead of the match.
“The last time we played them we didn’t play brilliantly, so that is always in the back of our minds,” she said.
“But finals are a different story, it’s always a different game.”
Nathan said she hoped the experience of Casey Crothers, Catherine Brown and Esther Manly would combine with her greener players, such as 15-year-old Smith, to create a winning formula.
“(Smith) was a novice last year coming into finals, and she is just twice the player she was last year, so I’m really excited to see what she can do,” Nathan said.
“She really changes the way that we play down that attack end, she is such a strong target.”
The Kangas finished the home-and-away season fourth on the ladder.
While aware it would be a challenge to reach the grand final, Nathan said it was not one they hadn’t faced previously.
“It’s certainly a different place to be in, however, we’ve won a premiership from fourth place before,” she said.
“I think we’ve got a few old heads in the team, so hopefully our experience will shine through in our finals campaign, and we will get deeper into the finals series.”
Bulldogs coach Tara Bate said she had “a few mixed feelings” going up against the Kangas, but ultimately believed her team was strong and prepared to face the pressure.
“It is a tricky one, everyone sort of handles final pressure a lot differently,” she said.
“But if I can keep feeding to the girls that it is just another game, it isn’t anything different, we just go out there and go hard like we normally do, and it will come together.”
The winner of the elimination match will take on the loser of Saturday’s game between Mildura and Irymple in the semi-final next week.
