Australia will need to overcome the FAST5 Ferns if they are to lift a third straight FAST5 Netball World Series crown in Christchurch.
The hosts booked a place in the final after netting a six-point play on the buzzer to beat South Africa and earn the right to take on Australia for the title at Wolfbrook Arena.
The Ferns beat South Africa 41-40 to progress to the tournament decider while the defending champion Australian side goes into the game as the only unbeaten team after pool play.
South Africa will now meet the tournament surprise package Uganda in the playoff for a bronze medal while England and Jamaica go head-to-head for fifth and sixth spot.
It had earlier looked like South Africa would upset the form book by ousting the FAST5 Ferns in a must win match but were caught by a fast-finishing home side.
The Ferns had been out of the running for much of the match against South Africa, and it took a six-point play from long bomb specialist Martina Salmon who calmly landed a penalty shot on the buzzer to give them victory and a spot in the final.
Captain Michaela Sokolich-Beatson said it was an amazing game to be a part of with her team playing catch up for much of the encounter.
“We got the turnover with eight seconds to go, it just happened that the goal keeper contacted and Martina was able to put up a six pointer and she did it,” she said.
The defender said South Africa turned on a strong performance and her team was unable to secure enough ball, particularly in the second spell which they lost 4-14.
“We just didn’t put enough defensive pressure on which meant we weren’t creating enough ball and we know in this sort of game you need to win more ball than in a normal netball game. We didn’t win enough which means we didn’t have enough opportunities to score.”
With plenty riding on the result, both teams went goal for goal building towards the opening power play – South Africa making the most of the opportunity score extra points to open a 9-5 lead at the break.
Containing Rolene Streukter proved difficult for the Ferns with the South African shooter scoring all but two of her team’s points in the first quarter.
The Ferns struggled to put up enough attempts at goal in the second spell, scoring just four points, as the green team dominated and raced out to a commanding 23-9 halftime lead.
Midcourter Georgie Edgecombe did her best to get her team back into the match with a couple of key deflections and turnovers, but the difference was still telling for the FAST5 Ferns.
Attempting to cut the deficit with the long-range shots, the Ferns were unable to find their radar in the shooting circle and trailed 19-31 with six minutes to play.
But their never-say-die attitude got them back in the game and two six-point plays from Salmon in the final power play got the Ferns over the line.
Sokolich-Beatson said they would “ride this high” into the final where it would be important to pick up more ball to nullify the Australian shooters who were strong with the long bombs.
“We just need to get more ball so that we’ve got more opportunity to score.”
The FAST5 Ferns meet Australia in the women’s final at 8.10pm.