Warrnambool Mermaid Louise McLean scored a season-high 27 points in last Sunday's grand final series opener and teammate Alana Jones believes she had her best performance of the year.
But the duo admitted their individual efforts didn't mean much after their side went down to Altona by eight points.
The Mermaids must win on Saturday night at the Arc to force the series into a third and deciding game on Sunday.
McLean's biggest contribution to the scoreboard before last Sunday was 18 points.
"I haven't really scored much this year," she said.
"I would prefer not to score at all if we were going to win instead."
Warrnambool usually shares its scoring around but in game one of the grand final, only three players reached double figures - McLean, Jones (12 points) and Katie O'Keefe (13 points).
The next best contribution was four points.
"For us, that doesn't happen very often," McLean said.
"Normally we have multiple scorers who get around eight, nine, 10 or 12 points a game.
"Not taking anything away from Altona's defence because they put some pressure on us, but I don't think it was that awesome that it didn't allow us to do what we normally do.
"I'm not sure if it was because of nerves or finals pressure.
"I think the girls who had quieter games will come out and show what they can do this weekend.
"This is it for us, it's do-or-die."
McLean said the Mermaids would be focusing on defence at training tomorrow night, particularly how to limit the influence of Lady Gators young guard Stacey Barr, who hit 35 points last Sunday.
While O'Keefe will again hope to shut down Altona playing coach Sharon Grieve, who she restricted to seven points in the opener, Jones is concentrating on centre Louise Johnston.
"Kate (Sewell) will start on her, then I'll come on," said Jones, who matched her 12 points with 10 rebounds last Sunday.
"It was probably the best game I've had this season but it was just sad that we lost.
"We let ourselves down as a team but I think we'll be able to regroup and bounce back."
Jones, of Portland, said she did plenty of thinking between the semi-final and grand final.
"In the semi-final I was sort of fighting some confidence issues," she said.
"I didn't really play how I wanted to play and I was disappointed.
"I thought about it a lot, did some talking with my family and went down to the courts here in Portland to have some shots.
"I also did an individual with (coach) Peter (Davis) which was really helpful, just having the one-on-one with him."
After getting limited minutes in the semi-final series against Warrandyte, Jones was looking forward to having a bigger impact in the grand final.
"I think I match up pretty well against (Johnston)," she said.
"We're very similar in size and height and we probably get in each other's way.
"She's deadly on her left hand drives so I will definitely have to watch that."
Saturday's tip-off is 7pm while Sunday's match, if required, starts at 2pm.
McLean believed the strong home crowd support would help the Mermaids.
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