FINALS netball has leapt out at Bulldogs Verdelho and Panthers so suddenly.
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In an already shortened season due to COVID-19, washouts and byes have left both clubs a little starved for netball going into this Saturday's Bathurst Netball Association A grade preliminary final.
The last few weeks of practice will have been vital for Bulldogs and Panthers as they look to see who gets the right to play Collegians Mystified in the following weekend's grand final.
It's hard to pick a favourite for the match since the only time the two teams met this season they played out a draw.
The 28-all draw came way back in the opening round of the season and no doubt each club will be interested to see how they've progressed over the course of the year.
Panthers' path to the preliminary final was somewhat anticlimactic.
They were set for a sudden death affair with Panthers Agriwest, with the winner taking third spot on the ladder and the remaining spot in the finals, but their opponents forfeited the clash.
Panthers' Jess Matthews said it was disappointing not to get another game in before the finals arrived but believes the build up to the game has still been productive.
"It's disappointing because we had the washout, then the bye and then we were meant to play them, so we haven't played for three weeks," she said.
"It's not ideal but we'll do what we can. We got to play one of the younger teams on Monday and then we played the A reserve team on Tuesday - who are also in finals this weekend - and it was great to get that hit out.
"They're one of the top teams in that competition, so it's great for both of us to have a bit of fun and have a great game."
Matthews said the Panthers side have been looking forward to the rematch with Bulldogs for some time.
"We only got to play them once, due to washouts, and we had a draw so it's going to be a tough game," she said.
"We're very evenly matched. It will be the same way for whoever comes up against Collegians."
It's a different story for the Bulldogs who did get on the court for the last round of the regular season.
Bulldogs were far from their best in a 32-27 win over Panthers Toshacks, in which they were down at half-time.
The Verdelho girls picked up their game in the third quarter but they will be happy to have got that match out of their system before this Saturday's sudden death affair.
The game gets underway from 2.45pm.
In the A reserve preliminary final Panthers Allsorts play Superstars United at 1.15pm. The winner will face Scots All Saints College.