Chatfield, who captained the Vixens to the most recent of their trans-Tasman titles in 2014, was adamant the opportunity for a home grand final that was surrendered via the one-goal loss to the Sunshine Coast Lightning had not cruelled the Vixens' championship ambitions. Instead of the week's rest, they face a sudden-death preliminary against the Giants at Hisense Arena on Saturday night.

"They've been the most consistent team all season and they just had a slight lapse in concentration, but I actually don't think they need to make any major changes to how they've been playing," Chatfield said. "They rarely make mistakes with their ball-handling and I think Simone [McKinnis] has really got them drilled very well in just doing all the basics right.

"I was gutted for them that they didn't get a home grand final; that seems to be the tradition that's always happened in Melbourne, and we've been very lucky with that over the years. But I also remember winning an away grand final for Melbourne Phoenix [in Sydney in 2003] and how powerful that was as a team, and I feel like the Vixens are in that position to do that."

Chatfield, the ex-Diamond now working as a consultant for the rival Magpies after ending her stellar club career at the end of 2015, said the Vixens' familiarity through combinations honed at junior and feeder level had been brilliantly complemented by the addition of goal shooter Mwai Kumwenda. Their biggest task, she believes, will be closing down a versatile Giants attack end that also got the better of McKinnis' young team in their recent clash in Canberra, after the Vixens had swept the round six stoush 59-51.

Veteran goaler Susan Pettit brings a different dynamic to the front third when drafted - as she was last week against the Magpies - into wing attack and thus leaving the scoring duties to Jo Harten and holding spearhead Krissie Brice. "Their attack is probably going to be their most powerful weapon, and that's a big challenge for someone like an Emily Mannix," Chatfield said. "But they can do it. They're surprised everyone all year. There's no reason why they can't do it again."

McMahon, another former champion and club captain, said she had noticed some nerves among the Vixens' line-up last Saturday, less of their usual confidence and flair and a tentative start in particular for a team that has lost just one of 15 first quarters this season. She echoed McKinnis' post-match sentiments that the chance to gain extra finals experience may not be a bad thing.

"They've almost played this year like they weren't expected to be there and they were just doing their thing, so then when hosted the first final maybe they thought about that a little bit. I think they have got a really slick forward line, very difficult to defend, and how they regroup is that they remember that, they remember how they played during the year and they try and do those things and play without the nerves of a final.

"Acknowledge it's a big game, of course it is, it's knockout from here, but try to focus on the play and being out there on court rather than the enormity of the moment."

McMahon nominated as the critical duel that between Giants defender Bec Bulley, who has starred at goal defence since being lured out of post-motherhood retirement, and Tegan Philip, whose triumphant return has been from a torn ACL.

"Bec Bulley just has a steadiness and a real toughness about her and I think her ability to restrict Tegan's play outside and her shots on goal will be a massive key, because that is what has really stood the Vixens apart from other teams is their ability to share the shooting load," said McMahon, the Vixens' part-time shooting coach. "Whichever way that match-up goes I think will play a big role."

So a prediction? The Vixens. Just. "When you've two semis decided by one goal it's bloody tight, isn't it?" she said. "This is probably a bit of a cop-out, but I'm just going for Vixens for home court advantage - that might get them over the line, but it's seriously hard to split."