Saturday 7 May 2016 20:08, UK
Ahead of the Grand Final, Manchester Thunder's Sara Bayman and Surrey Storm's Sophia Candappa answer key questions about Saturday's title decider.
Reigning champions Surrey will face Manchester, who finished top of the Vitality Netball Superleague, at the Copper Box Arena, live on Sky Sports.
The Storm and Thunder hold one win apiece in their matches this season, but who will come out on top this weekend?
Sara and Sophia have given their verdicts...
Sara: I think for the fans, yes definitely. Storm and Thunder have a lot of history, a lot of rivalry. The fans should expect a treat as we usually put on a good game. We finished one and two in the league, obviously won our semi-finals, and over the course of the season you would say these are the top two sides.
The fans should expect a treat as we usually put on a good game.
Sophia: Definitely. We've both won a game each against each other, so I think Saturday is going to be a really hotly contested game. We'll probably be level pegging the whole way through.
Sara: I think that is most likely. We've both analysed each other, we both know each other's games. Having one win each, it's the decider and I would expect it to be really tight.
Sophia: Tamsin, our coach has always said to us that the final should be between Storm and Thunder. We have definitely kept our eye on them, watching the video of them against other teams and our games.
Sara: They might have the edge in that they've won a Superleague at the Copper Box before. But each of the Superleagues that we have won have been against Storm. It's 50-50.
Sophia: I actually didn't play for the Storm last year, but I definitely think that is an advantage for us as a team. Definitely the plan is to go back and win it again at the Copper Box. It's sort of our second home after playing London Live, so I think we've definitely got a bit of a home advantage.
Sara: I think our victory away to Team Bath in round three. It kind of set us up for a good season and was probably our strongest performance of the season. It came really early and was a confidence boost, knowing that we could play that well and were title contenders.
Sophia: Our last round game which was against Mavericks. We had to win in order to secure a home semi-final. That did make a massive difference and was a confidence booster going into our semi-final against Mavericks again. It was a really crucial game.
Sara: I think Rachel Dunn in the circle is going to be one to watch for us. Me and Sophia will probably play against each other in the middle, which will be quite tasty. Then Ellie Cardwell against Hannah Reid is going to be huge. Who comes out on top of that could decide the game.
Sophia: Hannah Reid up against Ellie Cardwell is going to be really interesting. Hannah is a really experienced defender and Ellie Cardwell is a young, upcoming England shooter. That will be a really exciting match-up and also I'll be up against Sara, which is always a good battle. I'm looking forward to that.
Sara: When Rachel Dunn is on form she just slots goals from anywhere. We've really got to cut down the service to her from the mid-court, because we don't want her getting the ball in the circle.
Sophia: They have got a really strong mid-court. Sara and Natalie Haythornthwaite are a really strong combo. Ultimately Helen Housby, the superstar shooter, can do a lot of damage. That is part of our game-plan to stop her from scoring that golden goal.
Sara: Our coaching staff have been great all through the season. We definitely went through a mid-season blip and I think as a team we were getting worried about it, whereas the coaching staff were just absolutely fine. We're ready to peak again and the last few games we've been playing really well.
Sophia: They have been really influential. Obviously we've had Tamsin Greenway not playing this year. She's been on the bench as Director of Netball for Surrey and also Head Coach Kat Ratnapala. They are both experienced players. Kat has been working with the defenders, which has been awesome, and for me I've had the joy of learning everything from Tamsin, which has been really good.
Sara: It's fantastic. I actually really didn't expect it and the first I knew about it was when my Mum rang me up and told me. It's really nice to get individual recognition, but I'll take a Superleague win over that. If I can have both, thanks. My mum has voted about 18 times. She's whipping iPads out from nowhere.
I'm really honoured to be recognised, but I just want to go out there on Saturday and do my team proud and play well.
Sophia: It was a real shock. I'm really honoured to be recognised, but I just want to go out there on Saturday and do my team proud and play well, so I can give us the best chance of winning that Superleague title.
Sara: It's huge. As an experienced player, you realise that these opportunities don't come around very often. It's such a huge game and such an amazing stadium to be in. To win it for Manchester Thunder would be absolutely massive.
Sophia: All those hours that we've given up, Tamsin screaming at me, telling me how awful I am at times in games, it will all be worth it. The Storm girls are amazing, they have really welcomed me this season. I feel like I have slotted in and to do it with them would be just amazing.
Watch Surrey Storm against Manchester Thunder in Saturday's Grand Final from 4.30pm on Sky Sports 5.
