The Giants are still tinkering with the make-up of their attack just two weeks out from the Super Netball finals, which they may well need to contest from third spot after Friday's costly home loss against Queensland.
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Coach Julie Fitzgerald employed three wing attacks in the three-point loss to the Firebirds, and constantly mixed up her shooting configuration as she continues to search for the best combination before next week's crunch clash against the classy Sunshine Coast Lightning.
Susan Pettitt played the first half at goal shooter against the Firebirds with Jo Harten wearing the goal attack bib. That combination worked superbly in the win against Melbourne a week before, but failed to find as much traction on Friday night.
The pair switched to their usual roles for the third quarter as the Giants started mounting a comeback before Harten went back to goal attack for the final term, Kristina Brice came off the bench as the shooter and Pettitt moved up to wing attack – a bib also worn by Sarah Wall and Taylah Davies earlier in the night.
"We did it last week and it worked," Pettitt said. "Even though we switched our bibs we still run the same kind of way.
"I still play a goal attack role as a goal shooter, so I'm out of the circle trying to get the keeper moving. It's a switch of the bibs but not really a switch of the movements and our game plan.
"Jo and I are finding each other really well now. We know where each other are going to be with our movements so that's really nice.
"We've just got to get our connection from our middies into our shooters as well. At the moment there's some really brilliant passes but the timing's also a bit out. We need to connect better with our wing attack and centre."
Fitzgerald said after the game she would continue to employ a horses-for-courses approach with her fluid attacking half, although just how she lines up against the Lightning remains to be seen.
Should Melbourne and Sunshine Coast win, as expected, they will both leapfrog the ladder-leading Giants and sit a point clear of the Sydney outfit with a week to play.
That would make next weekend's blockbuster between Sunshine Coast and the Giants, part of a regular season-ending double header at Qudos Bank Arena, a top-two shootout.
The Giants are desperate to finish the season in the top two, which would ensure a second chance, should they lose their first-week finals match.
"We didn't make it very happy for ourselves with that loss but we've got a really hard game next week against Lightning so hopefully we can build on things and get our confidence back and look to finals," Pettitt said.
"Finals are a whole new thing, it's game on when you get to finals.
"Every team in this competition has brilliant games and then has some average games. You turn up on the day and it's anyone's game.
"Everyone's combinations are new. Even us, even though everyone says we're an experienced team, we've only played together for this season. It's only upwards from here, everyone's going to be improving."
