REWARDING players for their off-season efforts has strengthened Kia Magic coach Noeline Taurua’s selection hand for Sunday’s ANZ Championship clash against the NSW Swifts in Tauranga.
Able to field two different attacking lines in the first-round win against the EasiYo Tactix, the Waikato/Bay of Plenty mentor is still in the process of getting a grip on the merits of her players in the cut and thrust of the competitive environment.
"I’m in a different mindset now in regards to tinkering,’’ Taurua said.
"Players have put up their hands in regards to their efforts in the pre-season, so it’s giving them the opportunity to see what they’ve got and I’ve never done that in the past. I’m really proud of what individuals have been able to do.
"It’s not tinkering with a starting seven at this stage, it’s really reward for what individuals have done in pre-season and now it’s up to them as to whether they can deliver in real time."
The stakes are expected to lift considerably for this game after both sides recored lopsided 23 and 14 goal wins respectively against Tactix and West Coast Fever to open the season.
Whoever fronts for Magic, there will be no radical change in plan for their first encounter against an Australian team and one with which they have shared a close rivalry since the competition began six years ago.
"Every week we just tweak, there won’t be wholesale changes to our strategies," Taurua said.
"All our pre-season training has hopefully encompassed everything we’re likely to face no matter who the opposition.
"We’ve been working the two for a very long time in regards to whether it’s going to be space marking or pure man-on-man, so for some of them (players) it will be acknowleding the difference and just making sure we’re clear on that."
Overall Taurua was pleased with the opening round efforts and resultant statistical analysis, with consolidation and final execution being the main priorities this week.
She is mindful of what Swifts will bring to the table after their impressive opening round win.
"Swifts had a brilliant opening game - they were on fire and their timing was near-perfect," she said.
"Even though they did have a bit of a lull it didn’t last long, so for us I’m just excited to see how we are placed against a different style and opponents who looked really good the previous week."
The Magic and Swifts meet at Tauranga's ASB Baypark Arena on Sunday, March 31 from 7.20pm, local time.
