Netball: Henry tripped up by niggling injury

An ankle injury has dogged Joline Henry this season. Photo / Getty Images

Joline Henry has changed what used to be a hard-headed attitude to injury. She now knows what a difference it can make.

She currently rates herself at about 75 per cent, meaning a race against time to be fit enough to take on Australia in the two tests in early June.

Henry estimates she had missed only one previous game through injury in her entire international, franchise and provincial career.

"It has opened my eyes, I guess," says Henry. "I used to tell [injured] people off - expecting them to take a 'harden up' pill and get out there. That used to be my attitude - give me more tape, more strapping, and I'll be fine."

Now she'll be hoping an old sporting adage rings true for her. 'Form is temporary, class is permanent' seems particularly relevant to the Mystics star as she struggles back to her best after an injury-blighted ANZ Championship season.

Named in the national side last Tuesday more on reputation than anything she has done for her franchise in 2011, the 28-year-old faces a battle to retain her Ferns spot, especially given the form of Mystics team-mate Anna Scarlett.

The lanky Scarlett has been one of the players of the season so far, a dominating presence with and without the ball.

Gone are the rough edges on display when she first returned from beach volleyball last year. To many eyes, Scarlett's cameo at wing defence in the Delhi Commonwealth Games final helped to turn the game and that will still be fresh in the mind of Ruth Aitken and her fellow selectors.

Additionally, there is a logjam at the defensive end with Casey Williams and Katrina Grant probably the preferred combination and Leana de Bruin coming off a marquee season for the Steel. Aware of this, Scarlett may target Henry's wing defence position as her best possibility of court time.

"To be honest, I am never comfortable," says Henry. "You never know what will happen. But I am confident in my ability - confident that I have got assets that will contribute to winning a gold medal.

"I'm not sure what part I will play in that but I believe I bring something different than [Anna] Scarlett. She has attributes that I don't have and vice versa."

Henry correctly identifies this as a strength for the Ferns, enhancing their depth and options.

"We now have lots of different combinations and potential styles. We will have a team of 12 players that can all go out there and be competitive against Australia. I don't think it is something we have had in the Ferns for a long, long time."

Since injuring her ankle in round two against the Pulse, Henry has barely been seen on court for the Mystics and by her own admission struggled with the pace of the game during last Monday's forgettable loss to the Swifts.

"I apologised to the girls after the game," admits Henry. "It took me too long to get up to speed. At the moment I see things and know what I want to do but the body can't get me there."

Henry will start today in the round 11 clash with the Tactix at Trusts Stadium. The Mystics are in the healthy position of having their destiny in their own hands; winning their last two games will cement a top four place.

For the Tactix, discarded Fern Anna Thompson will have plenty to prove, Donna Wilkins has been in brilliant form and the zippy Maree Bowden will be a handful for Henry. But the Tactix have been beaten nine times this season and a fired up Mystics side should have too many guns.

The Mystics beat the Tactix 58-45 in the charity match at Vector Arena three weeks ago.

The Canterbury side have beaten their Northern rivals just twice in seven games, and their only win in Auckland came way back in the very first round of the ANZ Championship in April 2008.