Mystics' coach Helene Wilson could not have spoken more prophetic words in the lead up to this year's ANZ Premiership season.
"It will take more than a top seven players to get through this season. It will be the team that's able to adapt and play with the players available that will come out on top," Wilson told RNZ back in February.
Wilson has seen her side suffer three consecutive losses since star shooter Grace Nweke was sidelined with an injury and has now confirmed two players tested positive for Covid on the weekend.
Grace Nweke Photo: www.photosport.nz
Most of the Mystics' players came down with Covid just before the start of the season and the franchise would have hoped that was behind them.
Wilson wouldn't say which players have been affected.
Scans have confirmed Nweke has a sprained ankle, but Wilson is hoping the 20-year-old will be able to take the court for a potential elimination final on the 8th June, which they have already qualified for at a minimum.
The grand final on the 12th June will be hosted by the season's minor premiers.
The Mystics have a huge final regular season game against the Pulse this weekend, who are closing in on them at the top of the ladder.
The Pulse are threatening to pass the Mystics on points and get a home final.
The defending champions will need a far better performance than what they put out against the Stars, who completely outclassed them 59-38 on the weekend.
The Mystics had just 49 attempts at goal compared to the Stars' 82, and used five different shooters, including defender Phoenix Karaka.
"The talk at training [this week] is what our strengths are at the moment with the team and playing to those strengths for 60 minutes," Wilson said.
"Since Grace's injury we've proven to ourselves is that we are still incredibly competitive when all our players are fit and healthy to take the court.
"The learnings from the weekend are how can I get a fit and healthy team ready to play the Pulse this weekend, who that will be as of today I do not know."
Mystics coach Helene Wilson. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Wilson will be using whatever players are available to make up a team, which may include having to bring in reinforcements.
Given the impacts of Covid, coaches this year have been able to utilise players who are not contracted to another team. That has seen retired players like Storm Purvis and Leana De Bruin bib up for teams who are short.
Four or more players in a team have to be affected by Covid before a franchise can apply for a postponement.
"The question is what is the quality product that we're going to be putting out on court. We hope to put a good quality product out there but I don't know how many players that will be because it's too early to tell."
Looking ahead to finals, Wilson said she also had to factor in return to play protocols once players come back from Covid.
"The reality is it's a tight window, most players throughout this year have taken 14 days minimum to return to game competition. The positive thing is from the weekend to the elimination final it is more than 14 days."
Wilson said even if Nweke was able to play in an elimination final, she won't be 100 percent.
"That would be unlikely but there's been many top athletes in New Zealand sport that have played finals not being 100 percent so if she's cleared by the doctor she will be playing the elimination final."
Physio and pool sessions are a large part of Nweke's rehabilitation plan.
"She's doing all the things that she needs to to get on court. She has the Silver Ferns' medical team wrapped around her as well as the Mystics' medical team.
"Once she's had the information from the medical experts around where she is at and we can rule out that she is at no further risk if she takes the court she will be very comfortable to take the court if the timing is right."
Wilson didn't think the injury would affect Nweke's ability to put her hand up for Silver Ferns' selection.
Trials for the Commonwealth Games squad are being held in Wellington from June 20-23.
"The Silver Ferns' timeline is a lot longer than the Mystics timeline. The timeline for this type of injury is usually four to six weeks, the Silver Ferns timeline is well outside that and she's progressing well, ahead of time.
"I don't think the Silver Ferns is an issue for her. I think what she needs to do is concentrate on just getting healthy, getting back on court, building up her confidence and if she can do that in the ANZ Premiership that bodes well for her for trials for Silver Ferns."
Helene Wilson could hand Phoenix Karaka the shooting bib again. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
In Nweke's absence Monica Falkner and Filda Vui are the main shooting options, but Wilson said she would consider using Karaka again.
"Absolutely she's an option, she shot at a 100 percent, she was available, she's a big target, we can get the ball to her, that's the style of netball that we're used to playing."
"It annoys me that people say I hinder players' development. I'm the only coach in the competition that hasn't called in retired players so I'm really confident that we actually embrace the development of players but there is no point putting out a development player on the court when they are not ready to play ANZ Premiership.
"We've used Grace Namana from NNL, we've used Dani Binks from NNL, they are the players that were available to us on that day as other NNL players were playing in other teams. I'm really proud of the fact that the Mystics environment supports developing players."
"She [Pheonix Karaka] practices her shots every week, so does Peta Toeava, so does Sulu Fitzpatrick, every player in a netball team practices their shots."
Meanwhile, Nweke is doing everything she can to return to court from her first significant injury.
"The plan is a combination of being able to get back on court for Mystics and being prepared to trial for the Comm Games so just working with all the physios and staff around me to get me back there," Nweke said.
She said it was a balancing act.
"I want to be able to trial and play and put my hand up for Comm Games selections but I also know this whole season we've been building towards a potential finals bid so it's that balance. I've been speaking to the coaches and the staff about what I'm capable of and what I can do. I want to do both ...so we'll see how we go."
Nweke said she would be lying if she said she wasn't nervous about the 8th June goal.
"I feel like it's really fast and I just want to hear from the doctors and staff that I am safe to play and I'm doing everything I can to get to that point but in the back of my head I have this little fear of making things worse or causing other issues but I just want to get out there as soon as possible."