Adelaide are having their best start to a Super Netball season in two decades, with a 55-48 victory against the Melbourne Mavericks securing a fourth consecutive win.
Without star defender Tara Hinchliffe, who ruptured her ACL for the third time last round, the hosts couldn't shake off the ladder-leading Thunderbirds on Saturday.
Victory for Adelaide keeps their perfect start to the season intact and is the first time they've started 4-0 in 20 years, having demolished the Queensland Firebirds 73-46 in their biggest win last Sunday.
It wasn't all pretty for the visitors though, as the Mavericks threatened a boilover after cutting the deficit from eight goals to two in the third quarter.
But the T'birds kept their composure to emerge victorious.
Prolific scorer Elmere van der Berg nailed 38 goals from 42 attempts, while the defensive duo of Latanya Wilson (five interceptions, six gains) and Shamera Sterling-Humphrey (four rebounds, seven gains) were typically inspirational.
Against Diamond Jamie-Lee Price, Silver Fern Kate Heffernan upstaged her rival centre, tallying 19 feeds and 11 goal assists, while Price conceded six turnovers.
"It's (the result) a wake-up call for us. I'm glad it came now so we know what to do in the coming games," Sterling-Humphrey told Fox Sports as the winning margin was Adelaide's closest this season.
"Their defensive pressure on the court was really good, and I have to commend them for that.
"We didn't adjust quickly enough, but it's a learning process."
For the Mavericks (1-3), the loss is their third straight after going down 72-71 to the Melbourne Vixens last Saturday.
Conceding seven rebounds and 31 turnovers cruelled their chances of victory.
Despite the result, Hinchliffe's replacement Jessie Grenvold, demonstrated that she can fill the 27-year-old's big shoes, securing six interceptions and seven gains.
Goal attack Reilley Batcheldor, was also shining light, netting six Super Shots and providing 13 feeds.
It was a sloppy start for both teams, but Melbourne struggled to capitalise on their centre passes and Adelaide led 13-11 at quarter-time.
The Thunderbirds began to take advantage of the Mavericks' countless turnovers to beef their advantage up to 27-22 at the main break.
Van der Berg continued to inch the away side further ahead, but a trio of Melbourne Super Shots kept the deficit to five at the final break.
Wilson and Sterling-Humphrey stayed cool against a desperate Mavericks attack in the fourth quarter and the visitors ran away with the win.
Australian Associated Press
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