The rivalry between NSW Swifts and GIANTS Netball is set to reach fever pitch when the next instalment of this storied rivalry is played out for a spot in the 2021 Suncorp Super Netball at Nissan Arena, Brisbane.

While NSW is facing tough times due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the all-New South Wales clash is sure to put a smile on the faces of the fans and members of these clubs.

No matter which way you look at Swifts versus GIANTS, this is going to be a thriller that goes down to the wire.

GIANTS Netball shocked the league last weekend by becoming minor premiers following a 75-73 victory over West Coast Fever to book themselves a spot in the major semi-final – the first since 2018.

GIANTS fans will be hoping 2018 won’t be repeated after the club finished on top of the ladder, only to be sent packing with two losses in a row.

GIANTS have not won a finals game since its inaugural season back in 2017 – a stat the club will be desperate to change.

In 2019, Swifts surged home to win the grand final by 17-goals over a Sunshine Coast Lightning side going for three-in-a-row.

That big-game experience can’t be matched with plenty of players backing up in 2021.

The NSW Derby was played out twice this year.

Back in round 6, the Swifts dominated GIANTS by 12-goals after shooter Sam Wallace shot 58 from 58 goal attempts.

Back in round 11, GIANTS picked up the victory by four.

The breakdown

Turnovers will decide this match.

Over the past few months, the ability to hold onto the ball and put shooter Sophie Dwyer and Jo Harten into good position has been somewhat of an Achilles heel for the orange and blacks.

GIANTS have dipped in and out of form throughout the year almost entirely based on what they do with the ball – Harten leads the league with 111 season turnovers with Dwyer in third on 91.

Centre Jamie-Lee Price is herself eleventh with 68 – while no Swifts players feature in the top 20 at all.

Swifts treasure the ball and will continue to do so, it is up to the GIANTS as to how they want to play.

It isn’t all bad, Harten leads the competition with 47 super shots and Dywer is second 42 – the two-goal shot keeps them in games.

Swifts seem to always win when Sam Wallace fires – the shooter is instrumental to the side.

Anytime she has dominated a game, the side seem to win – and win well.

She’s fourth in the league for goals score on 489, even with considerable time on the bench at points throughout the year.

She’s scored 93 per cent of her shots but she’s taking on defender Sam Poolman from GIANTS.

Poolman is known for her tough style of defence that confuses space – all the way down to her trademark hands in the air in front of shooters.

Only Thunderbirds dynamo Shamera Sterling is better than Poolman for rebounds.

If Wallace is off her game, pressure will be on young shooter Sophie Garbin and England Rose Helen Housby to stand up.

Don’t discount Swifts keeper Sarah Klau – a silent assassin of the game. She’ll need to be on song to disrupt Harten.