KEY POINTS:
It's been 18 months since Silver Fern Sheryl Scanlan last jumped to an umpire's whistle. Her comeback trail has been long and lonely.
Lately, Scanlan has wondered if her day back on court would ever come - what with motherhood, a freak injury and a family tragedy.
Today, all going well, the explosive defender will turn out for the Force - the team she has been loyal to for a decade - in the annual spirited clash with neighbours the Diamonds.
"I'm so hungry for this," the 29-year-old new mum says. "I'm excited, but worried at the same time because it's been a long time training without playing. I'm going to give it my all but I might be relying on past experience a bit and the players around me just to get started."
Scanlan's last game of netball was a beauty - the 2005 national championship final, where her North Harbour side beat defending champions Waikato.
Soon after that victory, Scanlan found she was pregnant with her first child - a son, Jafeth, who is now 10 months old. "I love being a mum. I'm really enjoying him, watching him develop every day.
"He's changed the way I look at things. He's given me time to reflect on my netball career, and my time management skills have definitely improved. I try to train every morning, so I have the rest of the day to spend with baby. And when I train, I train so hard because I know it's time away from my son."
Training has, at times, been an ordeal for Scanlan. She and husband Malcolm live in Manurewa on the southern edge of Auckland - far from the North Shore base of the Force - and her parents, regular babysitters, live in the west.
"A lot of my training has been on my own, and that's been really hard. The off-season seemed so long," she says.
"My family have been a blessing, though, and I wouldn't be playing again if it wasn't for their support.
Post-baby training was physically demanding - "the first time I jumped on the treadmill I didn't last two minutes"- but as a New Zealand squad member, she has remained under the guidance of the NZ Academy of Sport.
Her newfound hunger for the game has had repercussions that have stunned Silver Ferns trainers. Her conditioning results since Jafeth was born have been higher than those achieved before motherhood. Silver Ferns coach Ruth Aitken was so impressed with Scanlan's efforts that she reincluded her in the Ferns squad in February - without her having to play a game.
There have been dips in her rise. In a freak accident during a summer training camp with the Force, she broke a bone in her right hand, ruling her out of any pre-season games.
She recovered in time for the first game of the National Bank Cup season last weekend, but the death of her mother-in-law meant she did not travel to Invercargill for the upset victory over the Sting (the Force wore black armbands out of respect).
Scanlan suspects Force coach Yvonne Willering was pulling her hair out going into the season three defenders down - with Lorna Suafoa and Vilimaina Davu also injured. Suafoa is out of today's match, still mending an injured knee.
Scanlan is looking forward to once again pairing up with Davu, her former Silver Ferns defensive partner.
"Vili adds a bit of spice to the team, and we have a real understanding and trust in each other. I know she has my back covered, and I have hers," Scanlan says.
A Silver Fern since 2000, with 42 caps, Scanlan is a strong contender for the New Zealand team to play Australia and England in England next month.
That team will be named on Monday, looking ahead to the world championships in November.
But her focus is firmly on the Force and winning the trophy that has eluded her since she started with the northern franchise in 1998.
The Diamonds, seeking revenge for last week's disappointing start, will be back to full strength for today's home game, with captain Stephanie Bond recovered from the calf strain she suffered in the opening minutes against the Flames.
The Magic should have a clear edge over the Shakers this afternoon, while the Flames will keep their advantage in their southern derby encounter with the Rebels tomorrow, despite losing stalwart shooter Shelley Norris to injury.
Round 2
Today:
* Diamonds v Force, Waitakere Trusts Stadium, 4pm (live TV One); Magic v Shakers, Tauranga, 4pm.
Tomorrow:
* Flames v Rebels, Christchurch, 1pm (live TV One); Flyers v Sting, Napier, 1pm.
