Round 7 - Season defining?

I have spent this week looking over the remaining rounds of this years ANZ Championship and trying to figure out who my pick's are to make the finals series.

After the impressive win last round on Monday night, the Central Pulse could actually create history again this season by making the finals for the first time in the clubs history. The deciding factor could well be tomorrow's game against the Melbourne Vixens in Melbourne.

Ever since the competitions inception one thing has been clear right from the get go, New Zealand team's have struggled to win in Australia. It has puzzled many including myself and it certainly appears to be a mental struggle that the teams have faced.

If the Central Pulse can continue the momentum created from the win against the Magic and notch a victory against the impressive Vixens then the remaining games in the competition could certainly get them into the top 4.

Pulse remaining games
- vs Vixens (away)
- vs Magic (away)
- vs Mystics (home)
- vs Fever (home)
- vs Tactix (away)
- BYE
- vs Tactix (away)
- vs Steel (away)

Each country's 5 teams play their respective country teams more than the opposing countries. As you can see from the remaining games for the Pulse they only have 2 Australian teams out of the final 8 rounds. There is nothing to suggest that they cannot win at least 5 of these games and add the BYE round in there, my fingers and toes are certainly crossed.

It raises the question of wether the teams should play and even amount of game against each other, even out the playing field.

Tomorrow the standout defensive pair of Katrina Grant and Te Huinga Reo Selby-Rickit will have the work cut out with the much shorter Tegan Caldwell and Sharelle McMahon possibly taking the court in the goal circle with question marks remaining over Karyn Howarth's current knee injury.

The loss of Joline Henry for another game could well be the deciding factor. Madison Browne is certainly the best WA in the competition and it will take something special from either Daya Wiffen or Victoria Smith to shut her down to deprive the sharp Vixens shooters of opportunities.

My heart says Pulse but my head says Vixens.