Swifts coach Briony Akle has hit back at the doubters ahead of their Super Netball grand final eliminator against the Melbourne Vixens on Sunday, saying those expecting NSW to be "cannon fodder" stand to be disappointed.

The sold-out sign has been hoisted at the Quaycentre, with standing tickets released on Friday as the Swifts try to fight their way into a maiden grand final. They will start favourite with bookmakers but Akle doesn't believe her side has been given the respect it deserves before the clash.

The Swifts paid a hefty price for a mid-game blitz by the Lightning on Saturday and now go into a sudden-death game against a Vixens side who emerged from the Melbourne derby against Collingwood with a 13-goal victory.

Briony Akle has started the mind games ahead of Sunday's grand final qualifier. Getty Images

That result, Akle said, had left her side being "written off" in certain quarters and she believed the pressure was now firmly on the visitors to capitalise on their momentum.

"Some of the comment around the game is a bit hard to fathom to be honest. Vixens win one game and suddenly we are expected to be cannon fodder on their march to a grand final," Akle said.

"But that means no pressure on us, so that’s a positive. Don’t get me wrong, I have a huge respect for the Vixens and if they come and do a number on us this weekend then they'll well and truly deserve their place in the decider.

"But we won’t just roll over. My players have fought damn hard all year, despite losing three of our main 10 players to season-ending injuries including our captain. Through all that they worked tirelessly and secured a top-two finish.

"Some people seem to think we’re lucky to have a second chance but we earned that by finishing in the top two and 15 points ahead of the Vixens in third. That’s not luck."

Akle's comments represent a spirited call to arms for the Swifts, who have beaten the Vixens twice in the regular season. It sets the scene for what will now be an emotion-charged eliminator, with the Lightning waiting in Queensland for the winner.

"People have already written the Swifts off so my team just need to go out there and give it a red-hot crack. I know they're good enough. I mean we beat the Vixens twice this season already," Akle said.

"All the pressure is now on them and we have nothing to lose at this stage. Everyone is expecting them to come to Sydney and turn us over. I guess we’ll see on Sunday if they're good enough to do it.

"I don’t know if they are or not … all I know is we're good enough to beat them, we've done it twice already."

Akle wants the Swifts to be relaxed and embrace the occasion as they try to rebound from a 10-goal loss to the Lightning, a match where they showed they could match it with the champions in patches but need to extend that across four quarters.

The Vixens have 10 internationals among their ranks but Akle said NSW had every reason to believe they could progress and should remember why they were good enough to give themselves a second shot in the finals.

"My guys can go out and relish the occasion in front of their own fans knowing they've earned to right to be on their home turf, with shot at a first grand final since 2016.

"They’ve played with a smile for most of the season and that’s been missing of late but with the pressure off I want to see that on Sunday."