The Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic netball franchise have been left in the dark over when their star signing Caitlin Bassett will hit New Zealand.
The Magic secured the Australian shooter's signature last year for the 2021 ANZ Premiership to combine with New Zealand-born Chiara Semple and rising teenage talent KhiarnaWilliams.
Bassett was named in the Diamonds squad to play the Silver Ferns in the yet-to-be rescheduled Constellation Cup, where it was planned she would play all four tests before joining the Magic for pre-season training.
But Magic head coach Amigene Metcalfe said they are yet to be informed of any dates.
"We had always planned to get her here around the proposed Constellation Cup, so when there's confirmation around those dates for those matches, we'll have some idea when she's coming over with the Diamonds," Metcalfe told Newstalk ZB Sport. "They'll have to do their quarantine, do the test matches — should they go ahead — and then she'll be released to us.
"There are lots of boxes to tick and things that have to be put in place for the health and safety of the country. But the plans [for the Constellation Cup] are still in place and hopefully they can confirm some dates within the next few weeks."
The ANZ Premiership is set to get under way on April 18, with the Magic's first game on April 19 against the Northern Mystics in Auckland.
Netball New Zealand are yet to confirm when dates for the Constellation Cup will be finalised, but the Herald understands it could be as late as March.
The 2021 ANZ Premiership starts on April 18. Photo / Photosport
That would leave the Magic with little time to work with Bassett before the domestic league starts.
However, Metcalfe was so far pleased with Bassett's involvement from afar.
"She's been really open to everything that we've asked of her, she's following our training programme, she's working that in with her Diamonds training and her communication has been awesome.
"We're happy with how proactive she has been with making sure that she's ready when she comes."
Netball New Zealand are set to discuss the Constellation Cup in the next few weeks.
