Central Pulse endeared themselves to ANZ Championship fans on both sides of the Tasman with their giant-killing 53-52 effort against 2008 champions NSW Swifts in Round 13, and seven of the eight players who took the court during that game remain with Pulse in 2010.

They include shooters Te Amo Amaru-Tibble (83% for the season) and Silver Fern Paula Griffin (79.5%), whose combination was a key factor in the Swifts match, and Silver Ferns squad member Camilla Lees.

Pulse's potential was glimpsed by three other teams in 2009. They pushed Mystics hard, home and away, losing to them by only one and four goals, went down to Fever by six goals in Round 4, and lost by three goals to Tactix in Round 8.

The benefits of Pulse's participation in the ANZ Championship were quickly seen in Wellington's 1^st Grade, Division 2 victory at the Perry Foundation National Championships in October. That team included seven 2008-2009 Pulse players.

However, one boilover win and several gallant efforts do not a champion team make, and Pulse ended the 2009 ANZ Championship where they finished in Season One, in tenth position.

Coach Yvette McCausland-Durie has recruited shrewdly to increase her options in both goal circles. Silver Ferns Katrina Grant (from Steel) and Ama Abgeze (from the champion Vixens squad) join the defence end, while Alanah Cassidy (from the champion Western Under-21 side and the NZU21 team) and 1.93m former Australian & Thunderbirds shooter Jane Altschwager boost the already solid shooting end.

The hard-working mid-court remains stable, with Daya Pritchard, who made the Perry Foundation National 1^st Grade tournament team from the champion Wellington side, the only new face.

Pulse begin their 2010 season away, playing Tactix in Christchurch, before returning home to meet Mystics in Round 2, and travelling to Dunedin to match Steel in Round 3. They can expect no mercy in Sydney from the Swifts who will be keen to atone for last year's shock defeat, and there will be no respite when they return home, to host the Thunderbirds in Round 5, and Steel in Round 6.

Pulse have their work cut out to keep in touch with the competition in 2010, but a refreshed line-up, a growing band of loyal fans and their trademark never-say-die attitude ensure they can't be taken cheaply, and remain constantly capable of delivering surprises.

CENTRAL PULSE 2010
PLAYER Italics=New to ANZ Championship	2009 TEAMS
Ama Abgeze	England, Tactix
Jane Altschwager	Thunderbirds
Te Amo Amaru-Tibble	Pulse, Wellington
Alanah Cassidy	NZU21, Western U21
Katrina Grant	Silver Ferns, Steel
Paula Griffin	Silver Ferns, NZU21, Pulse
Jamilah Gupwell	Pulse, Wellington
Camilla Lees	Silver Ferns Squad, NZU21, Pulse
Cushla Lichtwark	Pulse, Wellington
Bessie Manu	Pulse, Wellington
Ngarama Milner-Olsen	Pulse, Wellington
Daya Pritchard	Wellington