Thwaites' 36th goal of the gripping end-to-end contest consigned the Swifts to a fourth defeat of the season as a stirring last-quarter quarter fightback fell just short.

Just one week ago the Magpies were on the end of a one-goal loss to the Sunshine Coast Lightning when Caitlin Bassett snared a winning goal in the concluding stages.

"We definitely did run those scenarios throughout the week at training and in the final minutes," Thwaites said.

"With a team like the Swifts you know that they're never going to go away.

"The Sydney crowd is just amazing and it's so nice to come back here and just be a part of that again and how loud that was, even though they were cheering against us."

Thwaites was one of six high-profile departures from the Swifts in the off-season, and one of two who headed south to the star-studded Magpies.

The other was crowd favourite Sharni Layton who received her usual hero's welcome from the crowd when introduced pre-game before engaging in a titanic struggle with star Swifts import Sam Wallace.

A boxing judge might have just about awarded that battle to Wallace who nailed 36 goals, although Layton made sure the Trinidadian shooter had to work hard throughout the afternoon.

Layton collided heavily with the ground late in the second quarter, but played on with heavy strapping around her right knee in the second half.

"She [Wallace] is such a great player, just her movement and her athletic ability in the air," Layton said.

"That's the most challenging thing about her that she can kind of go either way.

"Being able to cover that front space is important but you've got to be on an angle to be able to keep her away from the post and I thought she probably beat me a bit on that today.

"You've got to be able to position yourself in a way that's protecting the post so you can have a crack at the ball but if you're too close on her body, then you can't go for the intercept and that's when I stacked it.

"If you're falling on the ground it's a good sign to get off the body and run at the ball."

Wallace said her strategy throughout was to keep Layton as busy as possible.

"Sharni is a tough competitor, we know she is determined, I played against her in a World Cup so I know how she is," Wallace said.

"You've got to be determined and put your body on the line.

"I'd rather lose by five or 10 than lose by one to be honest. We held them to a good fight, I'm just proud of all my girls."

Wallace was rejoined in the Swifts goal circle by Helen Housby who was back from a thumb injury, and the English import made an instant impact knocking in 18 goals of her own.

But the tight loss leaves the Swifts languishing towards the lower reaches of the Super Netball table after six rounds although coach Rob Wright will take plenty out of what was arguably their strongest performance of the season following last weekend's disappointment against the previously winless West Coast Fever.

"My big mantra is around making sure we're better than we were last time and we showed some really good growth again today," Wright said.

"I was really pleased with our composure and being able to almost go and pinch that one was exciting.

"Sometimes that fourth quarter is where we've had those real lapses. We were able to hang tough in the fourth and that was exciting because it was probably the first time that we've done that this year."