Duck had been unavailable for much of the season due to commitments with the Lady Bandits, but will return this weekend as the Hoppers lock horns against Wodonga.

Coach Jenny Jones said her inclusion was a windfall for the club.

“She played the early games and then, due to basketball, was unavailable but now she is back in the side which is great,” she said.

Jones said she would complement the already strong Hoppers outfit.

“We are really looking forward to the finals campaign and we know that when we play Wodonga, it is always a close one,” she said.

“We want to focus on the first five to 10 minutes of the game, get the score on the board early and consolidate without having to try and play catch-up netball for the other three quarters.

“We match up really well against them all over the court.

“We certainly want to balance our players on the court and focus on where we need to be.”

Wodonga Bulldogs coach Shannon Terlich said the Hoppers were traditionally a tough outfit, both physically and mentally.

“They have got great strength so we need to really play four quarters of netball and not two,” she said.

“Breda O’Kane is always really strong for them in goals but then you have Fiona Boyer and Paula Carey who are really smart players.

“They have been playing a long time so they are also ones to watch.

“They have been around for a while so if they see something we are doing and catch onto it then they are very quick to shut that down.

“We are just going to go out there and do our best and see what happens.”

The game will be played at J.C. Lowe Oval in Yarrawonga.

While in the elimination final, it will be do or die for either Wangaratta Rovers or Lavington Panthers.

Both sides will be digging in their heels to make sure they stay in the finals campaign.

Their game kicks off at Bunton Park on Sunday and should prove to be a fierce contest, with both sides having plenty of finals experience.