The Cavaliers edged that round-six encounter 58-57 and remain unbeaten after eight games but will be wary of city neighbours in possession of a six-and-two record as well as the league's silverware.

Enticing match-ups are promised at both ends of the court with Ashlea Mawer and Dannie Carstens set for an intimate reunion in the Cavs' defensive end and Gemma Poke and Melody Philpott likely to be similarly close in the leaders' goal circle.

However, both teams expect the contest to be won in mid-court where the Hawks will be using a not-so-secret weapon.

Jamie Symons should spearhead the scrap against Cavs' Lucy Dennis, with support from Steph Walker, Lydia Coote and the returning Ashton Whiley, but a fit-again Chelsea Mawer has a genetic advantage.

With sister Ashlea in superb shooting form, Hawks co-coach Ruth Tuohy hopes two decades of feeding her older sibling will be replicated on the court.

"Mid-court is where the momentum will be built and we'll be looking to use all of those players, but Chelsea has been particularly good at feeding her sister," Tuohy said.

"It's always an exciting game when we come up against the Cavs. There's been a competitive rivalry there for a long time which is great for netball in the North and with them undefeated and us tracking nicely I think it should be a ripper."

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Cavaliers coach Dan Roden also expected centre court to be the key battleground but emphasised that defensive pressure had been a highlight of his side's game.

"Our shooting end will be working hard to ensure the hard work of the team is converted onto the scoreboard in order to place continued pressure on the Hawks," he said.

Roden said he had been impressed with his players' tenacity and consistency in recent games, especially with a number of changes to the regular starting seven.