Magic plan to go easy on knees

Desperation has given way to moderation for Silver Ferns wannabe Julianna Naoupu as she nurses her dodgy knees through their first full workout this weekend at the trans-Tasman pre-season tournament, starting tomorrow at Tauranga's TECT arena.

Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic's Nauopo is itching to continue her combination in the shooting circle with veteran international Irene Van Dyk but is juggling her lofty ambitions with a co-ordinated rehabilitation programme after her knees gave way over the latter stages of last year, wrecking her shot at a Silver Ferns debut.

Nauopo has been at a Silver Ferns training camp as new coach Wai Taumaunu put a squad of 16 players through their paces, the first step on the four-year build-up towards the next world championships.

She was the only member of that group who hasn't yet worn the Ferns bib and got through the first week of contact work before Silver Ferns physio Sharon Kearney reined her in from overdoing it during the second week.

Naoupu said she has finally learned to balance her eagerness to do everything against what her body and team medical staff are telling her.

"There was a wee bit of monitoring going on because the knees back then weren't as well conditioned, but there's been some huge improvements from then to now and I've made big progress," the 21-year-old shooter said.

"I'm sticking to one [rehab] plan and one plan only, when in the past I've been known to doodle a bit and do my own thing. Now it's a self-responsibility thing - it's up to me to look after my knees and ask for help if it's needed.

"Between Sharon, Lynne O'Malley [Magic trainer] and Fiona Godard [physio] they've sorted out a programme for me. Everyone's on the same page and if something needs changing it has to go through those three before it gets to me."

Taumaunu realises Nauopo is worth persevering with after the big gains she made during last year's ANZ Championship. After three years of limited court time with the Southern Steel, Naoupu was promoted straight into the Magic starting line-up alongside Van Dyk, slotting 230 goals from 297 attempts (77.4 per cent).

It got her noticed but it also took a hefty toll physically, with Nauopo unused to the court time, having been largely a benchwarmer for Robyn Broughton's Steel.

She now trains with Magic three days a week (fitness Monday and team training Wednesday/Thursday) and the rest of the time is in the gym.

"I'm confident this season I'll get through the whole lot, rather than last season when the knees started crapping out towards the end.

"I feel a bit like an artificial Silver Fern right now but I'm more confident than ever I'll get there."