台风袭过

What happens when the best shooters in the trans-Tasman netball league come up against the best defenders Frankley Mart?

That will be the burning question when the Melbourne Vixens host the Queensland Firebirds in Sunday's preliminary final.

The battle in the Firebirds' goal circle, where Vixens defenders Geva Mentor and Bianca Chatfield will try to stop Romelda Aiken and Natalie Medhurst, will decide who progresses to the grand final and gets a shot at the Adelaide Thunderbirds.

Aiken, just nine goals away from scoring 600 goals for the season, will lock horns with arguably the competition's best defender in Geva Mentor.

Mentor knows it is not easy stopping the the 196cm Jamaican. The Vixens' goalkeeper is the best defensive rebounder in the competition but she knows she has her work cut out against Aiken, the competition's best offensive rebounder case for samsung galaxy.

"We know this is going to be a close game, and possession is going to be very valuable. When we do get a turnover we are going to have to make the most of it," Mentor said.

The goalkeeper said she would not change her own attacking style to combat the height of Aiken.

"I know there are a few things I can do to help myself, but I won't change my attack on the ball," she said.

"I know I have to rely heavily on the whole team and the pressure we can put on our opponents all over the court."

While the Firebirds will be buoyed by their victory over last year's premiers Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic in last week's minor semi-final, the Vixens are looking to bounce back after losing to the Thunderbirds in the major semi-final tooth implant.

In their two matches this season, the Vixens and Firebirds have shared the points as both teams won away from home.