Southern Steel captain Jodi Brown, experienced goal shooter and wannabe wing attack, wants her team to play without fear in Monday's trans-Tasman netball league match against Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic.
The Steel haven't won a game since their two-goal victory over Canterbury Tactix back in round three, but their new-look roster has come tantalisingly close on numerous occasions.
The 58-50 defeat to Central Pulse in Dunedin last Monday wasn't one of them, however.
Struggling with the loss of midcourter Courtney Tairi to a season-ending knee injury, the Steel couldn't replicate their form from the week before, when they pushed defending champions Queensland Firebirds before going down 61-60.
Brown says the Pulse defeat was especially frustrating.
"I think probably it was a case of really wanting it and almost trying too hard," she told NZ Newswire.
"When we turn and let it go, and someone drives with purpose, we all know what's going to happen.
"It's those moments where we tend to hesitate and step back a little bit, that's where we get ourselves into a hole."
Brown did her bit, underlining her versatility by stepping in to play at wing attack as coaches Natalie Avellino and Janine Southby ran an experimental line-up for the first half.
"It was great," she said.
"When I started netball, wing attack was my dream position, so I've finally conned someone into letting me play there."
Brown knows her team have a challenge ahead to repeat their opening round 49-47 win over the Magic in March, but she's also confident the Steel have the players to pull off another upset.
"We have that youth mixed with experience," she said.
"If we give it everything, punching into the ball, driving and just doing things almost without thinking, we're going to get there."
Round 10 begins on Sunday, with the Firebirds hosting NSW Swifts, Melbourne Vixens at home to Adelaide Thunderbirds, and Canterbury Tactix meeting Central Pulse in Christchurch.
Competition leaders Northern Mystics have the bye.
NZN