LIFE Studio gun, and mentor, Mardi Aplin said her side is looking to bounce back from last weekend’s loss to Robin Hood Orange Glass in Saturday’s Orange Netball Association Toyota Cup round 13 clash.
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Aplin’s side takes on Royal Hawks in the penultimate regular season round, and she said they couldn’t ask for a better opponent leading into the play-offs.
Life Studio, a perennial Toyota Cup heavyweight, sits second while the fourth-placed Royal Hawks boasts a four- point buffer from fifth-placed CYMS Gladiators.
“I think it’s safe to say Hawks will feature in the semi-finals,” Aplin said.
“So for us, it’s good to have such a hard hit out leading into the last couple weeks and then the finals themselves.
“We’re still looking to solidify a few of our combinations and this game is a good chance to do that.”
Despite Royal Hawks missing star player Amanda Hurford, Aplin was loathe to take the two blues lightly.
“Rousey (Hurford) has done a wonderful job with her squads and players at Hawks,” Aplin said. “Her players will well and truly be up for the game and will step up and perform, I don’t doubt that.”
A “frantic” Life Studio unit was outclassed by a stellar Robin Hood side 49-38 last week, and Aplin said her side must maintain control in today’s clash.
“I wasn’t there, but from what I’ve heard we were frantic and all over the place in terms of ball control,” she said.
“We need to stay relaxed, and maintain our defensive structures.”
In Saturday’s other Toyota Cup fixtures Robin Hood takes on High A (1.10pm), Hawks Ace Drilling plays LS DVM Embroidery (2.30pm) and CYMS Gladiators clash with KWS 1sts (3.50pm).