Northern Mystics have thrown down the gauntlet to their ANZ Premiership rivals, dispatching Southern Steel 70-50 for the first time at Invercargill.
With shooter Grace Nweke in dominant mood, the defending champions unleashed a 9-1 scoring burst to open up a double-figure first-quarter advantage and stretched that as far as 24 goals late in the final quarter.
The Steel had opened their season with an impressive victory over neighbours Mainland Taxtix, while an understrength Mystics - without Nweke - were toppled by Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic.
With their star shooter back in the line-up, the Auckland side were back to their best over round two, accounting for Central Pulse and the Steel to sit atop the competition table.
Nweke converted 50/52 to carry the bulk of her team's scoring, slotting 32 consecutive goals and shooting faultlessly through the second half, before she was subbed off later in the final quarter.
She overshadowed England international George Fisher (24/29) at the other end, while former Mystics attacker Saviour Tui shot 19/25 for the Steel.
International defenders Michaela Sokolich-Beatson and Phoenix Karaka continued their Mystics comebacks from injury and pregnancy, logging time in each quarter and forming a powerful combination with Silver Ferns teammate Sulu Fitzpatrick.
Northern Mystics 70 (Nweke 50/52, Vui 10/11, Falkner 10/12) Southern Steel 50 (Fisher 24/29, Tui 19/25, Heffernan 7/10)
