After sustaining their first loss of the Newcastle championship netball season, player-coach Katie Robinson wants Nova to strike back by ending University of Newcastle's undefeated status at National Park on Saturday.
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Nova's unbeaten start to the modified season was brought to a sudden halt last round after Souths came from behind at every break to beat Thunder 49-46 while University stretched their winning run to five matches with a comfortable victory over Inner Glow.
Robinson wants to see more risk-taking against a side she says are "beatable".
"We've got a few little things that we want to try this week and there's nothing to lose now," Robinson said. "Everyone has talked about how this season is for building. As a team we haven't done that yet, in terms of putting up high levels of risk, so maybe this is the week to do it."
Robinson felt winning the midcourt battle would be key to success in what should be an evenly matched encounter.
"We struggled at times against Souths with getting it through that midcourt smoothly and quickly and maybe just need a little more patience," Robinson said.
"Once we got flustered we just kept trying to push it through, whereas in weeks previous we were able to work backwards and make our way through the way we wanted to.
"If we can do that against their midcourt, we might have a bit more of a chance. Our offence end has still been great and, defensively, Georgia [McVey] and Laura [Nolan] are doing really well. They're both really strong in that circle."
There are three rounds of competition remaining and, while expecting "a really tough game", University of Newcastle coach Traci Baber was targeting an undefeated season.
"They're what I would say are the form team for this year," Baber said. "Because they did get beat last week, they're obviously going to want to come out and make amends for that. They're pretty strong all over and we match up really well one on one. Where it will be won is who can turn ball and then convert it into a goal."
BNC Whanau play Inner Glow, Souths take on Kotara South and Junction Stella meet West Leagues Balance.
Round seven is the Mental Health Awareness Round in conjunction with Northern NSW Football.
Meanwhile, Newcastle's Dakota Thomas and Nakita Jackson have been named in the Australian 19-and-under squad.
In Super Netball, Sam Poolman's Giants play Adelaide and Lightning take on the Firebirds on Sunday. On Saturday, West Coast take on the Swifts and Collingwood play the Vixens.
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