Vixens challenge for victory in west

While history favours the Vixens with a 13-1 record over the Fever, the match-up sees two highly touted sides battle it out as the ANZ Championship season rolls into it's crucial middle stages.

The Vixens will be refreshed from a weekend's rest and will look to avenge their Round 4 loss to the Adelaide Thunderbirds.

With three successful defences of the Challenge Trophy, Fever have enjoyed home court advantage in the early stages of the season with wins against the Northern Mystics, Southern Steel and Thunderbirds respectively.

Fever and Australian Diamonds goal shooter Caitlin Bassett has established herself as one of the competition's premier shooters with 234 goals at 88 per cent efficiency so far in 2015.

Expect Bassett to be locked in an entertaining battle with in-form Vixens goal keeper Geva Mentor, Bassett needs just 24 more goals to be the second player in ANZ Championship history behind Queensland Firebirds' Romelda Aiken to pass 3500 goals.

Bassett has been in great sync with Fever veteran Nat Medhurst – who sits in the top five for assists – whilst defender Erena Mikaere will enter the contest with the confidence of last round's match MVP award in the win over the Thunderbirds.

For the visitors, the confidence of almost pulling of an unlikely victory will spur them on as they take to the court at a venue they have never lost at.

Captain Bianca Chatfield will be motivated to orchestrate a suffocating defensive output after young defender Jo Weston was preferred in the fourth quarter of their last match as an impact player.

Madi Robinson will face off against her old side, the wing attack keen to be the dynamic influence out front for the Vixens alongside Diamonds teammate Tegan Philip.

The ability to limit the Fever's offensive options will go a long way to seeing the Vixens return to Melbourne with a vital two premiership points and the Challenge Trophy.