Pulse Coach Yvette McCausland-Durie believes a club culture overhaul is to thank for the team's success.
Wellington's Central Pulse have waited ten years since the club's inception to qualify for a netball final and tomorrow they will host the ANZ Premiership's first ever elimination final against the Mystics.
McCausland-Durie says the team's success is a testament to the strong commitment which she believes wasn't around while she coached the side between 2009 and 2011.
"I'm really proud of the franchise, it's been a massive challenge over a number of years and I was here some seven years ago and things are certainly different in terms of management and professionalism," she says.
The goal for Pulse this year was to make the top three - they exceeded this by finishing second after the regular season ahead of rivals Magic, and their opponents this weekend the Mystics. It was the best result in club history.
"They (Mystics) have good balance across the court but our ability of quick release of the ball enables us to make attacking opportunities. Unit defence has been an effective option for us to get gains but having the courage to attack ball is going to be key," says McCausland-Durie.
"The focus is on us because we know this game is going to be tough, we are realistic, but if we have the ability to get through - which I believe we can - then we'll start looking forward to the next one."
The Pulse have defeated the Mystics twice in their last three meetings this year, and despite the Mystics shock loss to the Tactix in the last round, the Pulse is leaving nothing to chance.
"To get the semi-final at home we are ecstatic, we knew to get that we needed wins.
"We want to go one better and make the grand final and hopefully from there be in a position to really challenge for the final of the Premiership."
The Central Pulse play the Northern Mystics in the elimination final of the ANZ Premiership on Sunday at 2pm at TSB Bank Arena in Wellington.
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