Netball: Chatfield eager to tackle Magic

Bianca Chatfield. Photo / Getty Images

A knee injury that sidelined Melbourne Vixens' co-captain Bianca Chatfield last weekend is unlikely to keep the Australian international out of Monday night's top-of-the-table showdown against the Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic.

The Vixens will make a call today on whether their key defender will travel across the Tasman for the clash.

Chatfield sat out her side's nail-biting 57-53 win over the Queensland Firebirds last week after being ruled out with swelling in her knee-joint.

It was the first time she had missed a game at the elite level through injury.

But Chatfield does not expect her stint on the sideline to last any longer.

She said the swelling had now subsided and rated herself an 80per cent chance of being fit to taketo the court in Tauranga on Monday.

The Vixens' medical staff will assess Chatfield today on how well she pulls up after last night's team training.

"I wasn't actually in any pain, [the knee] was just swollen. So the swelling has been down since Sunday," said Chatfield yesterday.

"I'll do our courtwork session tonight and if I come through it okay and everything checks out tomorrow, then I'll make the trip to New Zealand."

Chatfield admits it would take a lot to keep her out of Monday night's match-up, in which the star-powered Magic will put the Vixens' title credentials to the test.

The talented Vixens side, who finished a disappointing fourth last season, have established themselves as the competition favourites after their unbeaten start to the season.

A win over the Magic would see the Melbourne side establish a four-point buffer at the top of the table, and further boost their reputation as the team to beat.

"This is the clash we've all been looking forward to, playing the Magic over in New Zealand. I don't think you could ask for a harder match for us," said Chatfield.

"Coming up against the Magic, who have brilliant players all over the court, is probably the biggest test we've had this season."

The 27-year-old defender, who last year stepped out from the shadow of former Australian captain Liz Ellis to nab the starting goal-keep position in the Diamonds line-up, is also keen to test herself against champion shooter Irene van Dyk.

With Firebirds defender Laura Geitz doing an impressive job of containing van Dyk earlier this season, Chatfield will be after a strong performance to tighten her grip on the goal-keep bib for the international season.