Fiat Netball Superleague Finals Preview

Surrey Storm Netball head to the Fiat Superleague Showdown this weekend, looking to return to Guildford with as grand final winners!

Date, time and coverage

Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th May 2012. Live coverage of the Grand Final and highlights of both semi-finals will be on Sky Sports 4 on Sunday from 4pm.

Fixtures

Saturday 19 May

Northern Thunder v Hertfordshire Mavericks: 16.00
Surrey Storm v Team Bath: 19.00

Sunday 20 May

3rd v 4th Place Play-off: 15:00
Grand Final: 18.00

Team Guide

Surrey Storm
Storm go into the Superleague Showdown Weekend with an unbeaten run of 6 wins out of 6 in phase 2, having only lost once all season to fellow finalists Northern Thunder back in February. This form will see the Surrey girls go into the Showdown as firm favourites and they will be looking to not miss out on the title for a second season running.

Team Bath
Bath came through a Monday night play-off at home to the Celtic Dragons this week, edging out the Welsh side in a 52-50 thriller. That result was Bath's first win of phase 2 after they lost all 6 games and finished bottom of the tier. They will be looking to get off to a good start against the favourites on Saturday evening and defy the odds for a place in the Grand Final. With England coach Anna Mayes in the coaching setup Bath will be savvy to the opposition in Essex.

Northern Thunder
The Manchester side looked like being the team to be early on in the season, after inflicting defeat on Surrey Storm at the first asking in phase 1. But the tables were turned when Storm took double revenge and finished top of the phase 2 table. Tracy Neville's side make the long journey down south with confidence knowing that they are the only weakness in the top team's almost flawless campaign and will be serious title contenders should they defeat the Hertfordshire Mavericks on Saturday.

Hertfordshire Mavericks
Mavericks head into the Superleague Showdown Weekend as reigning champions following their victory in the 2011 Grand Final against Surrey Storm. Falling into 3rd place in both phase 1 and 2, Storm and Thunder have consistently proved to be a nuisance at home and away and Mavericks will want to pick up their first victories against either side this weekend. The Hertfordshire side travelled to Thunder in the final game of the regular season with the points staying firmly in Lancashire.

Team News
Surrey Storm will take a full team to the Sporthouse with no known injury worries.

Squad rotations during the final two games of the season will have given player-coach Tamsin Greenway a few more options to consider across the weekend: "The girls are in great shape and have really enjoyed the break since the Bath game. We have maintained some great focus but have trained in just the same way as we always do- with that winning mentality that has got us into the finals.

Obviously we were really disappointed to lose out last year. This year netball as a whole is bigger and better. Surrey Storm are bigger and better. And we will go out there knowing that we can win.

I think that right now we are in the best shape and form that we could possibly be in, even more so than this time last year. If we are ever going to win the Superleague, this is our perfect chance!"

Expected Squad to travel to Dagenham
Reid, Holland, Seaton, Bello, Trippick, Modeste, Ainsworth, Plom, Greenway, Dunn, Cookey, McHale and Davis.

Tickets and Coach Travel
Tickets for both Saturday and Sunday are still available but are selling well so be sure to buy in advance to avoid disappointment.

The official supporters coach travel to Dagenham on Sunday still has space too. Seats are just £10 per person and everyone on the coach will get a free Surrey Storm clapper! Two fans will also win a Surrey Storm hoody that they can wear with pride around the Sporthouse!

Full ticket and coach details are available here.

Meet the Squad
Get an insight into the life of a Surrey Storm player in this video, featuring an interview with Tamsin Greenway, Manager Naomi Taylor giving the low down on your favourite stars and a little look at a typical training session at Surrey Sports Park.