Can the Tactix be rid of the wooden spoon?

DOUG FIELD/Fairfax NZ

ON THE WINNING SIDE: Canterbury Tactix goal attack Ellen Halpenny lines up one of her 21 successful attempts at goal.

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As skipper Maree Bowden puts it, the Tactix have got "two more opportunities to show what we can do".

And all of a sudden, thanks to Monday's thrilling come-from-behind 62-61 win over the Southern Steel, the Tactix have more than just pride to play for.

The Tactix are tied on four points with the Steel and the West Coast Fever, but because of a poor goal percentage, they're still in last place.

So to achieve one of the side's major goals of avoiding a third successive wooden spoon, the Tactix have to win one more game. The slight problem with that scenario is their last two opponents – the Northern Mystics and Adelaide Thunderbirds – are tied at the top of the ladder and gearing up for finals netball.

So how important is not finishing last, is it what is going to motivate the side for their final two fixtures?

"Absolutely it is," Bowden said. "This year has been a tough year and a year about learning to win. We've only won two games, but we'll be giving it everything now in these last two games and we know we can do it."

Of course, the Tactix need to hope the Steel and Fever don't pick up wins too and this week at least that looks likely. The Fever are away to defending champions the Queensland Firebirds and the Steel are in Sydney taking on the New South Wales Swifts.

But this race is likely to come down to the final round when the Fever have a very winnable game against the Central Pulse in Perth and the Steel host the Melbourne Vixens in Invercargill.

- © Fairfax NZ News