Netball: Latu facing fitness battle

Cathrine Latu has been given the all-clear to resume training with the Mystics. Photo / Christine Cornege

Star shooter Cathrine Latu has been given the all-clear to resume training with the Mystics, but is facing a battle to be ready for the side's transtasman league season-opener on Monday.

Latu last night came through her first fully contested training session since mid-January, after being sidelined for a month following emergency surgery to remove her appendix.

Mystics coach Debbie Fuller said is expecting it will take Latu a few more training hit-outs to regain her confidence and connections on attack.

"She hasn't been in a contested training environment for several weeks now, so it was a bit of a shock to her," said Fuller.

"She's been allowed to run for the past wee while, so she's been doing that. But it's nothing compared to taking a ball fully stretched with Temalisi [Fakahokotau] or Sulu [Tone-Fitzpatrick] bumping her out of court."

Fuller said a decision on Latu's availability for won't be made until later in the week, but at this stage it is unlikely the Ferns shooter will start Monday night's round one match-up against the Tactix in Christchurch.

"I'm confident she will be an option, but I'm not confident she will be able to play a full 60 minutes," said Fuller.

"She just needs more time on court to ensure she's at her best to play and not coming back underdone. We'll test her again on Thursday to see where she is at."

The ANZ Championship kicks off on Saturday with the Magic taking on the Thunderbirds in Adelaide.