'How do we solve a problem like Maria?’

'How do we solve a problem like Maria?’ Pulse ponder
Reducing the impact of her influential opposite is top of the priority list for Central Pulse captain Katrina Grant inMonday night’s ANZ Championship netball clash against Northern Mystics in Wellington.

Defender Grant and shooter Maria Tutaia have been friends and rivals since before high school level and the opposing captains are once again set to get up close and personal, their match-up shaping as an individual highlight.

``She’s been the kingpin in that team for a long time, is a darn good player and when her team needs her she’ll come up with the goods,’’ Grant said of Tutaia.

``We’ve know each other for a long time so we know each other’s play like the back of our hands, and we always have a good tussle. She’s pretty hard to shut down and it’s not just my job but the whole defensive end’s to figure out new game plans each week and how we can help each other out and shut down those type of key players.’’

With the Pulse sitting on one win from two outings and the Mystics yet to open their account, there is a lot at stake for both teams and the importance of registering points against fellow Conference teams.

``They’ll be wanting this win pretty badly but we need it just as bad as they do,’’ Grant said. ``There’s a really long way to go in the season but it’s important, especially at home, to get these early wins.

``The Mystics have not shown their full potential these last couple of weeks. They’ve been bagged a bit in the media and they haven’t really hit their straps. They’ve got new combinations, just like us, a few young ones out there as well finding their feet.

``But as soon as they hit their straps, and I’m hoping Monday night isn’t the day, they’re going to be a force to be reckoned with.’’

Hitting the ground running with a first-up win against Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic, the Pulse stumbled against a red hot Queensland Firebirds in their last outing. Two competitive middle quarters having little impact after a poor start and finish to the match.

The Firebirds had the luxury of employing the same well-tuned line-up used in last year’s Grand Final win but the Pulse, who are still evolving as a team, were left frustrated.

``We know the Firebirds are a very slick side and we were going over there knowing if our form was good for the whole 60 minutes, it would have been a nice scoreline but any slip-ups and they will burn you,’’ Grant said. ``In the end, we got beaten by a better team.

``There’s just three of us on the court from last year and that means a whole raft of combinations finding their way. It’s not an excuse but it’s just one of those things where we need time to gel and game time’s the best thing to help us do that.

``Against Mystics, we need to make sure we start well, just so we can play the way we want to play and not be on the back foot and having to chase the whole game.’’

ENDS

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