Saturday 16 April 2016 16:22, UK
Natalie Haythornthwaite admits Manchester Thunder cannot afford a slip-up in their double-header as the battle for top spot intensifies in the Superleague.
The Thunder currently sit in second place in the Vitality Superleague table, level on points with leaders Hertfordshire Mavericks ahead of Saturday's visit to third-placed Surrey Storm.
Manchester will then host Yorkshire Jets on Monday night, live on Sky Sports, and all three of the teams can finish top, with just a handful of matches remaining.
Haythornthwaite is keen to strike a psychological blow against possible semi-final opponents Surrey, especially after suffering a defeat earlier in the season.
"Everyone wants top spot and with how the season is going, the top spot is still open for anyone," the England international told Sky Sports.
"It would be good to get a win over Surrey Storm, especially as they got the upper hand on us last time. It will be good to reverse that and do the business.
"If we have a semi-final match against them, or possibly a final, whatever the outcome is you always want to go in having the upper hand."
The struggling Jets will then travel to Manchester and Haythornthwaite is expecting a fiercely contested clash, despite Yorkshire's position at the bottom of the table.
"I know how big the rivalry is between Yorkshire Jets and Manchester Thunder, it's just like the war of the roses isn't it," said Haythornthwaite, who is a former Jets player.
"The last time I played against them, they took it down to the wire, so it's set to be a hard game.
"Where you end up in the play-offs is a big thing and it's literally going down to the wire. There is no game where you can afford to take your foot off the pedal. It's all about going for top spot."
Watch Manchester Thunder v Yorkshire Jets live on Sky Sports 2 HD from 7.30pm on Monday.
