Very little has split these two sides in the past, and this match is not likely to prove any different.

In their past two encounters, victory has been shared, with Migate winning their most recent encounter by double digits  and Strikers getting one up the match before by four goals.

Only eight points separates the two sides on the table, and just 17 in total score amassed throughout the season.

Strikers' Karen Walsh doesn't expect there will be much difference between the sides tonight.

``As has happened with our last couple of matches, either team could win, with it really coming down to who fires on the day,'' she said.

She also highlighted the key aspects in which the Strikers will have to excel if they are   to succeed.

``The key to our game has to be patience with the ball in hands, and to not let their gruelling defence dictate the pace of the game,'' Walsh said.

She highlighted the importance of circle feeders ensuring they were pinpoint accurate on their entry passes to attackers Steph Smith and Lauren Raggatt, giving them the best opportunity to put points on the board.

On the flipside, the Strikers have identified that playing defence as a unit, while sticking to the game plan, can go a long way to determining the match's outcome.

Similarly, Matariki Migate have put an emphasis on the defensive side of the court.

``We have been implementing a couple of defensive strategies at training lately, which will hopefully pay dividends for us this week,'' Matariki Migate's Terri Woodhouse said.

Woodhouse is expecting a big game from goal defence Chanoa Patuwai.

``I'll be counting on Chanoa [Patuwai], Liz McComb and Casey White to all have big games against the Strikers,'' she said.

Walsh is also expecting centre Tamhara Holder to have an influence on the outcome.

``Even though we are carrying a few niggling injuries at the moment, I still believe we have the personnel to win the encounter,'' she said.

The match that kicks off at 7pm has been in the players' minds for many weeks now.

``It's always exciting when we match up against Migate, as they have been somewhat of the benchmark for the past few seasons,'' Walsh said.