Netball: Depleted Magic facing mayday call

Magic players Casey Williams and Jessica Tuki arrive back from Australia. Photo / Greg Bowker

The Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic arrived back in the country yesterday still counting the toll of their disastrous semifinal outing against the Melbourne Vixens.

On top of delivering a second major blow to the Magic's confidence in as many weeks, the Waikato side are facing the prospect of going in to next week's preliminary final down three players.

Magic coach Noeline Taurua will spend today canvassing possible midcourt replacements after her stocks were further depleted at the weekend with Halana Leith suffering a season ending knee injury.

With the Magic woefully out of form and fighting to keep their finals campaign afloat, it is a distraction Taurua can ill afford.

Leith, who was brought on in the third quarter to replace Jessica Tuki, injured her knee midway through the final period in the Magic's 15-goal loss to the Vixens in Sunday's major semifinal.

It is thought the 24-year-old has ruptured her anterior cruciate ligament.

Pregnant defender Leana de Bruin won't take any further part in the season. And with regular starter Frances Solia in doubt as she continues to struggle with a calf injury, Taurua is set to issue a desperate SOS.

"We're getting a bit thin on the ground so it's more than likely that we'll have to call someone in as we're still unsure of where Frances is at," said Taurua.

But just who can answer that mayday remains unclear, with the options available to the Magic limited.

"I've sort of put the feelers out already and once I get home, hopefully I'll be able to find somebody," Taurua said.

"I've got people in my mind obviously, but we just have to check things out with them. If we can't find anyone suitable then we have to make do with what we've got."

The Magic's efforts to "make do" at the weekend saw them start Tuki, a converted shooter, in the wing attack position. But it soon became obvious the youngster is not a genuine option in the midcourt, with Tuki struggling to provide good service into her shooters. She was replaced in the second half by Leith, who was making just her second appearance in the ANZ Championship all season before it was cruelly cut short by injury.

The Magic will have to apply to the league office for special dispensation to bring in a replacement player during the finals. The rules state that for a player to be eligible to play in the finals they must have been in the line-up, but not necessarily have taken the court, in at least three games during the regular season.

However, there are allowances to bring in a replacement player in the case of serious injury.