The Southern Steel's trans-Tasman netball play-off fhopes have ended after they were beaten 68-56 by the West Coast Fever in Perth.
The Steel entered the game needing to win both of their last two clashes to remain any chance of finishing in the top-four but will now largely be thinking of next season.
The Steel's Jamaican shooter Jhaniele Fowler still managed to shoot an impressive 45 of 49, but Jodi Brown and Te Paea Selby Rickit gave her little support.
Meanwhile the Central Pulse still have an outside chance of making the top four after beating the Canterbury Tactix 73-59 in Porirua.
They'll need to beat the Southern Steel next week and hope the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic or Melbourne Vixens have big losses to have any chance of making the play-offs.