Firebirds shooter Natalie Medhurst ready to shake up Canterbury Tactix Queensland Firebirds shooter Natalie Medhurst had an outstanding game against West Coast Fever last week. HERE'S hoping Queensland Firebirds prime mover Natalie Medhurst has a relaxing flight across the Tasman today. When she arrives on court for tomorrow's ANZ Championship meeting with the Tactix, the goal attack will have all the freedom she wants to run, run, and keep running. Such is the Kiwi teams' preference for space marking, Medhurst will sweep through Christchurch like a biting winter wind. She showed some glimpses of it in last week's Nat show against the Fever. The absence of Chelsea Pitman may have been a help rather than a hindrance, as the front of the circle opened wide for the crafty attack to work her magic. Nicola Gray played a key part and will again help to create more of that space against the Tactix. Understanding your role and, when needed, underplaying that role is an important part of team sport. Wing attack Gray can drag her defender out of the way, allowing Medhurst to have a ball in her own private playground towards the transverse line. This is another important game for the Queenslanders. Tactix will have a go but this is a team leaking 67 goals a game. I can see Romelda Aiken shooting 50 or more. It will be the last opportunity for the Firebirds to cement their structures before a difficult series of matches against finals contenders. The Firies face the Melbourne Vixens (twice), Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic and the Fever in Perth after their Christchurch visit. Queensland's mission against Tactix will be to restrict the hosts to fewer than 45 goals. That will not be easy against a team whose strength is its speed and finesse on the ball. Tactix will be fired up after last week's win against the Mystics. Losing star recruit Julianna Naoupu to a knee injury has hurt their chances. Their backbone is the two English internationals - Jade Clarke and Jo Harten. I'm excited about watching Harten in action. She is one classy player and will certainly keep Laura Geitz busy. She shoots the ball at 86 per cent but that's not why I'm eager to see her play. It's the skill and varied options she brings to the attack end. Together with Clarke, the two English women will ensure the contest will not all be one-way traffic.