Round ten of the Netball Super League (NSL) is coming up and if results go their way, two more teams have the opportunity to confirm a place in the top four at the end of the regular season. Please find a look ahead to key talking points ahead of round ten below:
LexisNexis Dragons vs Nottingham Forest Netball
Date: Saturday 2 May
First Centre Pass: 18:00
Venue: House of Sport, Cardiff
These two teams have faced each other three times in their history, with Nottingham Forest Netball taking two wins, but LexisNexis Dragons taking the most recent win, a 57-62 victory away from home in round six this year.
There’ll be plenty of talent from the home nations in this game with Scotland stars Niamh McCall (LexisNexis Dragons), Iona Christian and Hannah Leighton (Nottingham Forest Netball) all taking to court, Northern Ireland international Niamh Cooper captaining Forest and a host of Welsh players, including Beth Dyke and Phillipa Yarranton, representing LexisNexis Dragons.
This week Phillipa Yarranton announced that 2026 will be her final seaosn in the NSL, with this game marking her final home gamein Cardiff for the LexisNexis Dragons, a club she has represented for the past five years.
Nottingham Forest Netball’s wing attack Brie Grierson remains at the top of the League leaderboard for feeds, with 311 feeds so far this season. Meanwhile her teammate Jayda Pechová tops the leaderboard for rebounds (30) and gains (64).
Head Coach
LexisNexis Dragons: Reinga Bloxham
Nottingham Forest: Chelsea Pitman
Captain
LexisNexis Dragons: Beth Dyke
Nottingham Forest: Niamh Cooper
NIC Leeds Rhinos vs London Mavericks
Date: Saturday 2 May
First Centre Pass: 19:30
Venue: Canon Medical Arena
NIC Leeds Rhinos return home on Saturday, looking for their second win of the season against fifth place in the League table, London Mavericks.
NIC Leeds Rhinos will be confident after pushing fourth place Nottingham Forest all the way in round nine, ending in a 63-68 loss. Meanwhile, Mavericks will be looking to bounce back after defeat to four-time NSL champions AO Manchester Thunder last week.
These two sides have had several close battles in their history, with Mavericks earning tight one-goal wins in both 2023 and 2025. Last season when the two teams met at Canon Medical Arena, the match went to extra time and Mavericks came out on top in what was a complete thriller for fans.
London Mavericks attacker Amelia Hall played for NIC Leeds Rhinos in their inaugural season in 2021, playing in their first ever match which was against Dragons. Hall went on to make 48 appearances for the Rhinos over 2021-2022 and 2024, putting her at fourth for all-time Rhinos appearances.
Mavericks defender Jemma Donoghue also played for NIC Leeds Rhinos, making 11 appearances in 2023.
NIC Leeds Rhinos star Sanmarie Visser and London Mavericks defender Jamie Golob are teammates for South Africa, providing an exciting international match up for fans to enjoy.
Head Coach
NIC Leeds Rhinos: Lauren Palmer
London Mavericks: Tamsin Greenway
Captain
NIC Leeds Rhinos: Paige Reed
London Mavericks: Ellie Rattu
London Pulse vs Loughborough Lightning
Date: Sunday 3 May
First Centre Pass: 18:00
Venue: Copper Box Arena
It’s a 2025 Grand Final rematch as reigning champions London Pulse take on last year’s runners up Loughborough Lightning.
Lightning come into this game undefeated in 2026, and with bragging rights from the first matchup of these two teams this season which ended 68-61 in Lightning’s favour.
A win for Pulse in this game will see them overtake Lightning to sit at the top of the League table and it will guarantee their place in the top four come the end of the season.
If Pulse lose they still have a chance of confirming their top four spot this weekend based on other results as if London Mavericks and LexisNexis Dragons both lose (even with a bonus point) Pulse will be guaranteed a top four finish.
Head Coach
London Pulse: Sam Bird
Loughborough Lightning: Vic Burgess
Captain
London Pulse: Zara Everitt
Loughborough Lightning: Nat Panagarry and Beth Durant
AO Manchester Thunder vs Birmingham Panthers
Date: Monday 4 May
First Centre Pass: 18:00
Venue: Belle Vue Arena
After a thrilling comeback win against London Mavericks in round nine, AO Thunder return home with the opportunity (depending on other results) to confirm a top four finish this week.
If London Mavericks lose on Saturday and AO Thunder win today, they will be guaranteed a top four spot. If AO Thunder lose but pick up a bonus point, they need London Mavericks to lose without a bonus point and LexisNexis Dragons to lose to confirm their place in the Soft & Gentle Play-Offs.
Birmingham Panthers will be looking to fight back after a 26-goal loss to defending champions London Pulse in round nine.
Birmingham Panters goal keeper Charli Fidler currently sits joint first in the NSL leaderboard for interceptions. She matches Funmi Fadoju in the top spot with 28 interceptions to her name.
Head Coach
AO Manchester Thunder: Karen Greig
Birmingham Panthers: Sonia Mkoloma
Captain
AO Manchester Thunder: Amy Carter
Birmingham Panthers: Betsy Creak
With thanks to England Netball
