Silver Ferns wannabe Julianna Naoupu is caught between the proverbial rock and hard place, otherwise known as national netball coach Wai Taumaunu and physio Sharon Kearney.
Over the past week, Taumaunu has put a squad of 16 players through their paces in Auckland, her first full camp since succeeding Ruth Aitken in October. It's a chance for her to stamp a personal mark on the four-year build-up towards the next world championships.
Naoupu is the only member of that group who hasn't yet worn the Ferns bib, so probably has more to gain from this gathering than anyone else. But at 21, the Waikato Magic goal shoot is already nursing dodgy knees that ruled her out of consideration over the latter stages of last year. Now desperate to impress the new coach, Naoupu must also balance that against what her body and team medical staff are telling her.
"Everything I do is monitored," she sighs. "I don't want to be too precious that I can't do things, but Shaz is onto it and when she says to rest, I have to listen. It's tough knowing you can go further, but [you] also wonder in the back of your mind whether you should push it."
Luckily, Taumaunu recognises the benefits of being patient with her charge, who made huge strides during the 2011 ANZ Championship. After three years of limited court time with the Southern Steel, Naoupu was promoted straight into the Magic starting line-up alongside veteran international Irene Van Dyk, slotting 230 goals from 297 attempts (77.4 per cent).