For someone who wasn't expecting much out of 2017, Giants Super netball goal shooter Kristina Brice is having a pretty good year.
Brice nailed the winning goal in last week's minor-semi final win over Collingwood, which propelled the Giants into Saturday's preliminary final against minor premiers Melbourne Vixens at Hisense Arena.
The western Sydney product who returned home after a stint with Adelaide Thunderbirds in 2016 has been an increasingly influential figure for the fledgling club.
Brice's ability to score heavily has prompted veteran coach Julie Fitzgerald to frequently inject her into the game off the bench, though she earned a start last weekend.
She did well enough over the past few years to suggest it was only a matter of time before she made a major impact.
Brice was named best new talent in the final season of the trans-Tasman competition in 2016 and in 2014 set a record for most goals scored by an individual in the second-tier Australian Netball League season.
She was a training partner for the Diamonds in January, but with international shooters Susan Pettitt of Australia and Jo Harten of England on the Giants roster, Brice didn't set her sights too high.
"Coming into this season I wasn't really expecting a lot," Brice told AAP.
"I just wanted to go out here and do the job when I needed to and that way Julie and the team would have the faith in me when things are close, like they have been the last couple of weeks.
"She's been able to put me out there and I've been able to get the job done."
Brice ended the star-studded Magpies' season with a goal less than 10 seconds from the end of last Saturday's minor semi-final.
"When I put the shot up I didnt know how long we had on the clock because the clock was behind me," Brice said.
She is predicting another very close encounter against the Vixens, who suffered a one-goal home defeat in their major semi final against Sunshine Coast Lightning.
"It's just going to be who can settle into the game quickest and who can capitalise on any turnovers," Brice said.
"We find when we come up against the Vixens, they are not one of those teams that throw the ball away; you actually have got to work to get your turnovers."