The Lighting won the opening two quarters at USC Stadium on Saturday and led by as many as 10 goals before a third-quarter surge from the Magpies set up a tense finish.

Desperate to remain in semi-final contention, Collingwood cut the deficit to two goals early in the final quarter but with shooter Caitlin Bassett (43 goals) firing, the Lightning steadied to claim six competition points.

Bassett was pleased with the way her side closed out the fourth quarter after Collingwood's second-half charge.

"I think they did a really good job of sitting off line, which slowed our game down a little bit," Bassett told the Nine Network after the win.

"Once we got a little bit patient and opened up the angles. It worked a lot better."

Sunshine Coast jump into the top four on 47 points, with state rivals the Queensland Firebirds (42 points) needing to win against the Giants on Sunday to overtake them.

The Lightning's run home starts in Adelaide next Sunday versus the bottom-placed Thunderbirds before closing the season against the NSW Swifts and Melbourne Vixens.

"Obviously, every game is a must-win for us so that's what we are going to be fixed on for the next couple of weeks," Bassett said.

Bassett shot with 100 per cent accuracy on her way to becoming the second player to score 1000 goals in Super Netball, while Stephanie Wood added 15 goals from 18 attempts.

Magpies shooter Caitlin Thwaites, who became the first player to reach the 1000-goal milestone last round, finished with 30 goals from 36 attempts against Lightning captain Geva Mentor.

The defeat effectively ends Collingwood's semi-final aspirations as they remain second from the bottom of the ladder, 13 points adrift of the Lightning, with three rounds remaining.

Neither side could grab the early advantage until Bassett nailed four of the last five goals to claim the opening quarter for the home side 17-15.

The Magpies made a promising start to the second quarter to briefly hit the front but the Lightning surged again to move back on top 35-29 at halftime.

Sunshine Coast appeared to be cruising after opening the third quarter with four in a row but with Sharni Layton inspirational in defence, the Magpies outscored the Lightning 14-8 to close the stanza four goals down.

Australian Associated Press