Netball: Magic rest veteran despite all-clear

Peta Scholz. Photo / Christine Cornege

The Magic plan to rest Peta Scholz for tonight's major semifinal clash against the Queensland Firebirds, despite the star import receiving the all-clear from medical staff.

Scholz has been under an injury cloud since she tweaked her knee in her side's round-11 win over the Adelaide Thunderbirds.

Given it was the same knee in which she ruptured her anterior cruciate ligament last year, ending her 2010 season, the Magic had initially feared the worst.

The veteran Australian midcourter spent last week in her home town of Adelaide consulting her surgeon who performed the knee reconstruction last year. Keyhole surgery on Thursday revealed no major damage and medical specialists have given Scholz the go-ahead to play in the transtasman league finals series - an opportunity she was denied last year through injury.

But the Magic have opted not to include Scholz in their line-up for tonight's game having completed their preparations assuming she would not be available.

It appears there is also an element of caution behind the decision by Magic management, who have opted to give Scholz an extra couple of days rest rather than risk pushing her too far too soon.

Scholz has not travelled to Brisbane and won't join the Magic until Tuesday, to prepare for a preliminary final next weekend or - if successful against the Firebirds - the grand final a week later.

Rookie defender Sulu Tone-Fitzpatrick is likely to take Scholz's place at wing defence after performing well in the unfamiliar position against the Central Pulse last week. But the nippy Firebirds midcourt will be an entirely different proposition for the 1.88m defender.

Despite Tone-Fitzpatrick's lack of match fitness in the position, Magic coach Noeline Taurua has every confidence in her young charge.

"Last week she played up against [Pulse wing attack] Ngarama Milner-Olsen who is really small and nippy, so that was a good test for her and I think it showed for us her potential out there at that position," said Taurua.

Nevertheless the Magic will miss the experience and leadership Scholz provides through the middle and her absence has significantly dented the Magic's chances of toppling the unbeaten Firebirds tonight and advancing straight through to the title decider.

But there remains a real determination in the group to secure the home grand final.

The Magic's two previous grand final appearances have been across the Tasman, and many believe their best chance to take out the title is if they are playing at home.

But Taurua believes the real advantage lies in getting the week off, while their eventual opponent has to battle their way through a preliminary final.

"It's better to have that week off to prepare and refresh ourselves because when you have to keep yourselves up and play at that intensity as well as the travel, it can be mentally draining," said Taurua.

ANZ CHAMPIONSHIP - MAJOR SEMIFINAL
Queensland Firebirds v Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic
Tonight, 9:40pm, Gold Coast

Head-to-head
* Firebirds 3, Magic 1

Previous meetings
* Round 8, 2011 - Firebirds (53) defeated Magic (49)
* Round 11, 2010 - Firebirds (55) defeated Magic (54)
* Round 4, 2009 - Firebirds (53) defeated Magic (42)
* Round 10, 2008 - Magic (56) defeated Firebirds (50)