Georgia McVey knows her upcoming opponents better than most having played with them during multiple premiership campaigns in the Newcastle open netball championships.
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But having switched clubs this year the now Nova Queens Wharf Thunder defender, along with current teammates Brooke Fennings and Eliza Lewis, will be trying to end the season of former side Souths Lions in Saturday's minor semi-final at National Park.
"We didn't know how it was going to go throughout the season, but they've been really close games," McVey told the Newcastle Herald on Thursday.
"I think the competitive nature of wanting to beat your old side and them not wanting to let us win has brought out a really good battle."
Nova snuck into the top four by one competition point despite a loss on the weekend, having beat third-placed Souths by five goals in the second last round and fifth-placed BNC Whanau by three the game before.
This marks Nova's first finals appearance in three years.
"It's always good to make it," McVey said.
"But we'll have to be really consistent in attack and make sure our defence is really strong by putting pressure on because they make use of the errors you give them."
Lewis or Hannah Stephenson will likely fill the void left by Nova's regular wing attack Cassidy Fleming, who remains overseas.
"We're pretty lucky, we've got a pretty deep squad," McVey said.
Souths, vying for a sixth straight grand final, arrive at the do-or-die encounter having defeated second-placed Forsythes Business Advisors in the 14th and final round on Saturday.
Forsythes and minor premiers Wests Leagues Balance No.1, striving for a third consecutive title, have this weekend off before meeting in the major semi. The preliminary final follows on August 31 before the decider on September 7.
Meanwhile, Novocastrian and Greater Western Sydney Giants defender Sam Poolman is one of 31 current players not yet contracted for next year's Super Netball season.
Clubs must finalise their 2020 squads by October 14 but can't sign from outside their existing groups until the Monday (September 16) after this year's grand final.
The Giants, who are fourth on the 2019 ladder with two rounds remaining and battling it out with Collingwood to make the semis, have first shot at retaining Poolman.
