Manchester Thunder host Hertfordshire Mavericks live on Sky Sports Mix
Monday 3 April 2017 21:44, UK
As the middle third of this season's Vitality Superleague begins, two long-term rivals go head to head, with Manchester Thunder hosting Hertfordshire Mavericks.
With both teams play-off regulars in the past, they currently find themselves outside the play-offs, making this clash - live on Sky Sports Mix - a significant fixture in their race for the top four.
Karen Greig's Thunder are fifth, level on points with Wasps and Bath, after producing a gritty second-half comeback in their last outing, during which they toppled pre-season favourites and new Superleague franchise, Wasps.
The former England international led her squad to an impressive upset, and wants that intensity to carry forward into their next encounter.
"Mavericks always prove to be a tough team to play against - they're renowned as a really solid defensive side, which is something we're going to have to look at in training," she told Sky Sports.
"They put out a great performance against Loughborough last week, and you've got to be worried about any team who can push a side the calibre of Loughborough. We'll be doing our homework this week and taking it very seriously.
"There's a lot of history between these two sides - a lot of rivalry, friendly rivalry; no matter which team we put out and they put out, it's going to be a really tough game."
Monday's clash might well prove educational for Greig herself, whose courtside opponent is none other than New Zealand coaching great, Robyn Broughton.
"I've admired her work from afar - what she's achieved with and over in New Zealand is phenomenal. It's great to have a coach of her calibre in the Superleague," she added.
"Anything I can learn from her is great. I'm just kicking off my own coaching career and looking to build a foundation for that here at Thunder."
The Manchester side, who reached the Grand Final last season, won both Mavericks-Thunder encounters in 2016, but Broughton believes the tables might be turned this time around, as her young squad mature into a prodigious force.
"Now that they've had a taste of the Superleague, and the type of games that are played at his level," she told Sky Sports.
"I'm really pleased with them. They work hard at training, and you see that they've stepped up a little bit more each week. You never know from game to game, but I can see the improvement and the enthusiasm - it's in them."
Although history is on Thunder's side, the final instalment of week seven promises to be a close-fought encounter between two fresh-faced, talented rosters.
You can enjoy all the action from Manchester on Sky Sports Mix from 7.15pm on Monday night.
