Queensland Firebirds coach Roselee Jencke has hailed her in-form outfit as finals ready after producing their biggest Super Netball win of the season.
In an effort that highlighted their championship credentials, the Firebirds on Saturday delivered a punishing 76-44 defeat of bogey side Collingwood, which was also the final appearance of Magpie and Diamonds great Sharni Layton.
Jencke all but said it was her team's best performance of the year, set up by 21-9 first quarter blitz.
Driven by never previously beating Collingwood, the Firebirds threw down the gauntlet to their Super Netball finals rivals from the outset.
They went on to dominate three of the four quarters in front of 4468 home fans to also put themselves in position for an unlikely home final.
"To finish off the season with such a comprehensive win where they played such sublime netball at times, and what they're really capable of, is just excellent going into finals," Jencke said.
"It was a rally strong defensive game and smart attacking game, and our main thing is we've been getting better each week and I think it's really good to have today's form going into finals."
They also have the confidence of beating top-two sides West Coast and the Giants in their four-match streak during the past month.
The Firebirds seven-point competition haul from their biggest win of the season lifts them to second place with the Giants, who meet the Fever in Saturday night's top-of-the-table clash.
Needing a last-round victory to secure a top-four spot, the Firebirds were put on the right foot by goal defence Kim Jenner, who set the tone with two early intercepts.
The Magpies only had themselves to blame in the first quarter as they produced a litany of errors.
Showing their frustration, coach Kristy Keppich-Birrell called a time out in just the fourth minute when down 6-1.
Retiring great Layton lasted only to the end of the first quarter before being benched as Firebirds attackers Gretel Tippett and Romelda Aiken ran riot.
Behind by 15 midway through the second quarter, Keppich-Birrell took off retiring centre Shae Brown to replace her with the demoted Kim Ravaillion.
But the home side, with Jenner and Laura Geitz combining for seven intercepts, kept marching on for a 39-19 lead in their best half of the season.
Layton returned in the third quarter and had an immediate impact as Collingwood rallied to snare the bonus point for the term.
The goalkeeper, Brown and fellow retiree Erin Bell were in tears on full time and given a guard of honour after the home side flexed their muscles in the last term.