Schedule shake-up relieves Pulse

A competition shake up is helping the Central Pulse breathe slightly easier after a disappointing start to the ANZ Netball Championship.

The Pulse have given up a two-goal halftime lead to lose 52-46 to the Firebirds in Porirua, their second-straight defeat.

Pulse captain Katrina Grant says the new playoff structure, guaranteeing the inclusion of three Kiwi teams, gives them extra motivation.

"The competition's changed this year. We've got the conference system, so we can take a bit of heart from that, that we've lost to the grand finalists of last year.

"We can come in, we can start playing some New Zealand teams at home and hopefully taking over on that and really starting to be a top New Zealand side."

Katrina Grant says the slight positive is that two tough teams are out of the way.

"Getting two Aussie teams done, but it would've been also nice to have two Aussie teams done and beaten them.

"So it's a tough one, but still a long way to go in the season."

The Mystics have been thumped 67-51 by the West Coast Fever in Perth.