Geitz sounds Firebirds warning

Queensland Firebirds captain Laura Geitz (left) in action against the Vixens in April. Source: Marc Robertson / News Corp Australia

QUEENSLAND Firebirds captain Laura Geitz has issued a chilling warning to Melbourne Vixens before Monday's major semi-final at Hisense Arena.

The Firebirds enter the clash between the league's top two teams after six straight wins and was the only team in the top four to win in the final round.

But Geitz, who is also the Diamonds captain, said the Firebirds, last year's runner-up, had not yet hit top form this season.

"I think we have hit some great form, I think we have got a great confidence about ourselves,'' Geitz said yesterday.

"We are definitely happy with the six wins on the trot but, in saying that, I think we have also got another level to get to.

"I think we all realise that we haven't been playing our best netball and that's exciting. I truly believe that we have got another level to reach.

"Hopefully the excitement of finals and the challenge of a finals series brings that out in the team.''

The Firebirds suffered a two-goal loss to Adelaide Thunderbirds in last year's trans-Tasman decider after ousting the Vixens in the preliminary final.

While Geitz said the Firebirds had not wanted to reflect on their grand final loss until now, she said it would be used as motivation for this series.

``I think we have to reflect on that now,'' she said.

``We haven't really wanted to reflect too much on what happened last season. It was a new playing group.

``You have to revisit that Grand Final as a playing group and ... just remind yourself of how disappointing it was to be the bridesmaids and to go down by two goals," she said.

"I think that is definitely something that's in the back of our minds and that we will remind ourselves of moving forward and hopefully into this finals series.''

Despite Melbourne's final-round stumble in New Zealand, Geitz said the Vixens were the competition's benchmark team this season.

``I think Vixens have been the in-form team of the ANZ Champs this year,'' Geitz said.

"(Vixens coach) Simone (McKinnis) has done a fantastic job with that playing group," she said.

"They have got great leadership in Bianca (Chatfield) and Madi (Robinson) and I think Tegan Caldwell has just stepped up this year.

"I definitely think they are the in-form team. I think we match up both very well against each other, so it should make for a very interesting major semi on Monday night.''

The star goal keeper said the Firebirds would have to draw on their tough one-on-one defence to combat the Vixens' swift ball movement.

``The pace that they move the ball with is extremely quick,'' she said.

``The thing we need to do is our one-on-one hard defence, "That's what we've prided ourselves on this year and that's where we try to suffocate teams," she said.

"That's hard work, but that's what we need to do to put ourselves in the best position to win the game against the Vixens.''

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