The Northern Mystics are back on the road this weekend facing a resurgent Central Pulse team at home at TSB Arena, a venue they last visited for their 2024 Grand Final victory. Despite suffering their first defeat of the season last weekend against the Tactix, the Mystics go into this already one win on the board against the Pulse after taking their round 2 clash 59-48 in Auckland.

Northern Mystics coach Tia Winikerei acknowledges that this game will be a completely different challenge, “We’re working with a somewhat new lineup….. we have to stick to our own principles and structures of play as the first job….as well as sustain the pressure the Pulse will bring, and they had an exceptional game last week and they were red hot”

Although back training, Mystics Goal Shoot, Donnell Wallam, will sit out this weekend’s match as she gives her wrist injury another week to heal, which gives the young shooters another chance to shine.

“Sophia, who had her debut last week, will join the team and she’s now had her first experience at ANZ Premiership and she’s taken a lot away from that. I thought she made a real good start…there’s nothing like being out there to know what to adjust or shift and she had to play Jane, she’s a world class player and so is Karin, and they were fierce, and I thought Sophia coped with that really well, the intensity of the defence, and I would expect to see her grow from that, “ says Winikerei.

The job doesn’t get any easier for the shooters this week as they come up against more Silver Ferns defenders in the form of Kelly Jackson and Parris Mason, who were both in superb form last weekend.

A standout for the Mystics last weekend was defender Charlotte Manley, a player who we can expect to see a lot more this season, “I’m really excited about Charlotte Manley…she hasn’t seen a lot of court time yet although when we put her out against the Tactix last week she was exceptional, she managed to overcome Ellie and Ellie scored 50 goals at 100% but Charlotte was able to win the ball from her…. she’s so agile and quick, it’s really exciting to see her out there.”

The Pulse are dangerous throughout court, but Winikerei knows where the game will be won or lost, “We must get on top of the midcourt battle. We’ve got experienced midcourters, but less experience than the Pulse at both ends of the court, we’re well aware of that, the midcourt battle will help either side win the game and whoever gets on top of that one, across the court, will probably win it.”

With both sides sitting on equal points on the ladder and vying to stay in the top three, this is set to be another classic battle. So tune in to Sky Sport at the new time of 7pm on Sunday night and get behind the Mystics.

Pulse v Mystics
TSB Bank Arena, Wellington
Sunday 8th June
7:00pm