Lightning 'not hiding' from historic three-peat
Loughborough Lightning's chance to claim an unprecedented Netball Super League 'three-peat' makes them overqualified to be underdogs for Sunday's Grand Final, says head coach Vic Burgess.
The Leicestershire outfit have a shot at becoming the first side to win three successive NSL titles when they face London Pulse in the decider at the O2 Arena in the nation's capital.
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While Loughborough are two-time defending champions, Pulse topped the table at the end of the regular season and overcame Lightning 50-49 in the major semi-final just two weeks ago to seal a spot in the showpiece event.
Loughborough, however, set up the high-stakes rematch by beating Manchester Thunder last weekend to reach their fifth straight Grand Final.
"We have a lot of history, we know how to win in pressure situations and we step up to the plate when it's needed," Burgess told BBC Radio Leicester.
"This is our fifth final in a row and we are going for a fourth championship.
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"We have beaten Pulse once this season and they have beaten us twice but I don't think we are the underdogs. I think Pulse want it, but I actually think we want it more."
And it is something of history-making proportions that Lightning desire on Sunday.
"The opportunity to do the 'three-peat' is there because it is their right," Burgess said.
"There is no point not talking about it because it is reality - if we do this, we do create some history. So why hide away from it?"
Burgess says the narrow defeat by Pulse in their last meeting, which sent Lightning the long way round to reach the Grand Final, has worked to Loughborough's advantage.
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"Leading up to the final we have put ourselves in the best position possible," she added. "We have had that extra game, and that intensity has kept us focused.
"I know the players will be raring to get back on the court against Pulse again so we can right some wrongs.
"The loss two weeks ago against Pulse in the major semi, that really did hit quite hard. It was a hard loss for everyone to take because it was one point and we had it [the advantage] at certain points in the game. No one wants to feel like that again."
Goal keeper Alice Harvey has been with Loughborough throughout their recent years of dominance - with this set to be her fifth Grand Final appearance in as many years - but says "nothing is being taken for granted".
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"This season has been hard and at no point did it ever feel like we were guaranteed to make the Grand Final," she told BBC East Midlands Today.
"Just because we have so much success behind us doesn't mean it will continue. We know we have to stick to our structures, processes and everything that has worked so far.
"I know it's not a given, but I am also in a team that pushes for high performance and making it into a Grand Final is the reward for that."
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