The Meteors will end a six-week hiatus on Wednesday when they play women's cricket powerhouse NSW in the semi-final of the Twenty20 competition.

While most of the NSW Breakers have been with the Australian women's team playing for the Ashes, the Meteors have not played a national-league match since December 22. To prepare the Meteors against an ''ambush'', coach Andrew Dawson called in marathon great Robert de Castella to address the players before the finals begin. De Castella won the 1983 marathon world championship, plus two Commonwealth Games gold medals.

''[De Castella] just talked about handling emotions … when you've got that annoying little voice on your shoulder telling you it's tough, how to get over that and keep going,'' Dawson said. ''He's worked with some guys and girls [through the Indigenous Marathon Project] who haven't had the easiest paths. If they can do it, we can do it.''

The Meteors face a tough task against the Breakers at Blacktown this week. The Breakers have won 13 of 15 women's one-day titles. They boast international stars, including dual-international Ellyse Perry and Alyssa Healy.

In contrast, the Meteors will be making their first finals appearance and have just one national player in the squad - Rene Farrell.

The Meteors only just scraped into the finals after losing their last game of the regular season to Queensland.

''When we got to the last round, some of the girls were having Voltaren for breakfast, they were putting it on their toast,'' Dawson said.

''The six-week break has been good for us; we got away from cricket and, hopefully, it has us refreshed.

''We'll be aiming for an ambush in the finals. They're one-off events and we want to hit it hard to see what damage we can do.''

■ WEDNESDAY
Women's Twenty20 semi-final: NSW Breakers v ACT Meteors at Blacktown International Sportspark, 10am.