Surrey Storm prepared for Hertfordshire Mavericks threat in Superleague semi-final
Sunday 1 May 2016 13:32, UK
Head coach Kat Ratnapala says Surrey Storm must believe in their own threat as they bid to beat Hertforshire Mavericks in the Vitality Netball Superleague semi-finals.
Ratnapala's defending champions come into Saturday's semi-final boosted by a victory over Mavs last weekend, although they will be well aware of the visitors threat having lost to them at London Live earlier in the season.
Storm have home advantage after Mavericks' end-of-season implosion saw them drop form first to third on the back of three successive defeats at the end of the season.
The franchises face-off in a repeat of last season's Grand Final but only one can make it through to the Copper Box for next week's 2016 showpiece against either Manchester Thunder or Team Bath.
"With Mavericks in mind as our opponents we have been working on sticking to a game plan," Ratnapala told Sky Sports.
"We need to make sure that we are doing what we set out to do against them. They have got a lot of different combinations and Sammy Wallace, they are a strong outfit.
Mavericks kept pace with favourites Thunder for much of the season before falling away.
"They are a strong attacking line up as well as a structured and set combination in the defensive end - it's making sure we break down those connections and work to our strengths," she added.
"We have got things in our locker that we know are going to break them down and it's making sure we use them and stay in the game
"For most teams consistency is the biggest word this season but it is making sure we think through every battle and every challenge they throw at us."
You can watch all the action from the Superleague semi-finals on Saturday from 3.30pm on Sky Sports 5. Manchester Thunder v Team Bath gets underway at 4pm with Surrey Storm v Hertfordshire Mavericks starting at 6pm.
