Star shooter Maria Tutaia is set to return to the court for the Silver Ferns next week. Photo / Getty Images.
Star shooter Maria Tutaia is set to return to the court for the Silver Ferns next week after proving her fitness ahead of the Oceania Netball Series in Fiji.
Tutaia has been sidelined since August after sustaining a foot injury during the Ferns disastrous Commonwealth Games campaign, missing the Constellation
Cup series against Australia and England's tour of New Zealand late last year.
The shooting ace was only taking limited part in Mystics training sessions in December, but Tutaia made strong progress at this week's squad camp in Auckland and the Ferns medical staff have deemed her ready to take the court in next week's Tri-Series with Fiji and Samoa.
Tutaia is one of five changes to the team that contested the England series, with the national selectors opting to give the likes of Ellen Halpenny (shooter), and midcourters Camilla Lees and Shannon Francois another chance to prove their value in the Ferns environment after being unwanted for the end of year tests.
They replace Cathrine Latu, Ameliaranne Wells, Liana Leota and Joline Henry in the side, with the latter not considered for selection due to injury. Rookie defender Phoenix Karaka also comes into the team in the place of Temalisi Fakahokotau.
