Picking up six of the eight available points was enough to lift them into top spot for at least a couple of hours before previous ladder leaders NSW Swifts played later on Saturday.

The fourth-placed Giants move six points clear of the Magpies, who don't play until Monday.

Ugandan captain Peace Proscovia made all 25 of her shots after coming on in the second quarter, when Lightning coach Noeline Taurua made some changes after her team fell five goals adrift.

She brought Proscovia on for Cara Koenen at goal shoot and Madeline McAuliffe for Jacqui Russell at wing defence.

"They were starting to get on top of us and we weren't creating enough turnovers hence the change that happened in that defence end," Taurua told AAP.

"In the shooting end we just needed a bit more stability and to be a bit stronger under the post."

Sunshine Coast led by one at quarter time despite Giants having five more shots.

The Giants had the momentum early in the second quarter, capitalising on some turnovers and twice establishing a five-goal lead.

The visitors rallied and pulled to within one at halftime, although the Giants picked up the bonus point for the quarter.

Giants coach Julie Fitzgerald rejigged her midcourt during the third quarter, bringing on Kiera Austin at wing attack and shifting Kim Green from that role to centre in place of Jamie-Lee Price.

But it was the Lightning who lifted with Karla Pretorius and Phumza Maweni pulling off some key defensive plays while Giants shooter Jo Harten missed a couple of shots as the Queenslanders carved out a five-goal advantage by the final break.

Fitzgerald made several changes going into the last quarter, benching Harten, moving Austin from wing attack to goal attack, moving Green back to WA and restoring Price to centre.

But Giants weren't able to reduce the gap below three, although they did pick up a second bonus point.

"I think we still saw a little bit of weariness from our internationals and that's what brought about the changes, but then I think we adapted to those changes very well," Fitzgerald said.

"We wanted to know today that we could compete against those top teams and I think we showed that."

Australian Associated Press