The T'Birds led at all three breaks before the ladder-leading Swifts levelled the ledger midway through the final quarter at Adelaide Entertainment Centre on Sunday.

The visitors pulled away and the win looked sealed but successive goals from the Thunderbirds tied the game within the last 30 seconds, and the crucial final centre pass went their way.

The ball was fed to goal attack Folau (26 goals, 36 attempts), who missed a shot seconds before the siren but was granted a second opportunity thanks to an obstruction call on Swifts defender Sarah Klau.

But the star - who has this week been in the spotlight for her husband's legal fight against Rugby Australia - missed again, robbing the Thunderbirds of just their second win of the season.

Following the game, Adelaide coach Tania Obst said there were positives to be taken from the performance despite the "awkward" outcome.

"We're gradually putting together a near 60-minute game, it's still not there but, overall, this was probably our best 60 minutes," she said.

"I think we've just drawn and probably had enough of the ball to beat the team top of the ladder.

"We come away with only the two points plus our bonus points so I don't know what to feel."

Swifts coach Briony Akle said the Thunderbirds "came to play" and her side was not as prepared as usual.

"I thought their defensive effort was really strong and we played straight into their hands," she said.

"We don't want draws, we want wins. But I think from where we were in the game, five down, other times we would have lost that game."

Credit for the draw should also be given to an able NSW mid-court and shooters Sophie Garbin (25 goals, 29 attempts) and Helen Housby (21 goals, 26 attempts), whose precision aided their side's last quarter comeback.

The teams last met in Sydney during round two, when the Swifts defeated the Thunderbirds by 18 goals.

The league now takes a four-week break as several players participate in the upcoming World Cup in Liverpool, England.

Australian Associated Press