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Unleash the hounds …
“We’re going on a fox hunt, we’re going to catch a big one, what a beautiful day, we’re not scared.”
We’re taking a leaf out of one of our favourite children’s storybooks tomorrow when we meet the Melbourne Vixens at ILT Stadium Southland.
Crafty, wily, cunning – they’re a team with all the attributes of their fox-like namesake. Stacked with international players, the Vixens will be eager to cement a home semi-final with a win over our Steel.
Bolstered by the strongest defensive pairing in the league in England representative Geva Mentor and Australian Diamond Bianca Chatfield, Steel’s attack will have to produce one of its most comprehensive performances to date.
Toppling the in-form team of 2014 will take a full team effort – on and off the court. We’re ready. This is our turf and ILT Stadium Southland will be packed to the brim with parochial Steel fans singing the praises of our awesome squad . We're thinking "Fox on the Run" is a pretty good tune ......
Steel a Secret from ... Te Paea Selby Rickit
Which team do you look forward to playing the most and why? I always enjoy coming up against the Pulse, with my sister being in the team my family always come along and support and I get to see all my nieces and nephews :)
Do you have any secret party tricks? Not really but Phoenix Karaka told me I can twerk like Beyonce so I guess that'll be it ;)
Growing up who was your all-time favourite player? Growing up my favourite player was Donna Wilkins.
If you could be another player for a week who would it be and why? If I could be another player for a week I would be Jhaniele because she's hilarious and has some awesome dance moves.
FIND OUT MORE OF TE PAEA'S SECRETS .... Click Here
 Steel Yourself for ROUND 14
Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel v Melbourne Vixens
Saturday 31 May, 4.20pm
ILT Stadium Southland, Invercargill
Broadcast Live - FOX SPORTS 3 (AUS); SKY SPORT 3 (NZ)
Umpires: Jono Bredin & Yvonne Morgan, Reserve: Kristie Simpson
The Facts:
LAST MEETING: Round 10, 2013: Vixens 58 def Steel 52, Hisense Arena, Melbourne.
• The Vixens lead head-to-head with four wins and two losses in six previous meetings.
• The Vixens sit on top of the ANZ Championship ladder after 13 rounds with nine wins and three losses.
• The Steel sits in 6th place with six wins and six losses after Round 13.
• The Vixens have a record of nine wins from 14 matches in New Zealand in the ANZ Championship.
• The Steel’s only two wins over the Vixens have been in New Zealand with the Steel winning a match in both Dunedin and Invercargill.
• The Steel and Vixens have previously met in Invercargill on two occasions with the Steel winning the first meeting in 2008 and the Vixens winning the most recent in 2013.
• The Vixens are coming off a 64-43 victory over the Thunderbirds in Round 13.
• The Steel is coming off a 64-60 win over the Tactix in Round 13.
• The Vixens qualified for their 5th ANZ Championship Final Series with their win over the Thunderbirds in Round 13. The only seasons the Vixens have failed to make the finals were in 2010 and 2011.
• The Vixens are on track to claim their third ANZ Championship minor premiership if they beat the Steel in Round 14. The Vixens also claimed the minor premiership in 2009 and 2012.
• Should the Vixens claim victory over the Steel, Melbourne will secure the minor premiership with 20 points which will equal the league's lowest tally to secure the minor premiership - 2012 (Melbourne) and 2008 (Magic).
• The Vixens have the second best attacking record in the ANZ Championship with 56.82 goals per match while they have the best defensive record with just 43.92 goals per match scored against them.
• The Steel has the best attacking record in the ANZ Championship with 60.75 goals per match while they have the second worst defensive record with 62.08 goals per match scored against them.
• The Steel has the best shooting accuracy in the ANZ Championship with an 88.4 percent return while the Vixens are 6th with 83.9 percent.
• Vixens defender Geva Mentor played her 100th ANZ Championship against the Thunderbirds in Round 13.
• Vixens wing attack Madi Robinson has won the most #GoldenBib awards in 2014 with six.
• Steel shooter Jhaniele Fowler-Reid is second for the most goals so far this season with 487 behind Tactix shooter Mwai Kumwenda.
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