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The Silver Ferns' already depleted midcourt stocks have taken yet another hit after the Southern Steel's Liana Barrett-Chase announced she was expecting her second child.
With last year's captain Adine Wilson taking time out to be a mum and Temepara George also ruling herself out of contention, Barrett-Chase had been widely tipped to make the step up to test level this year.
The 1.68m midcourter has had a mixed season but at her best has been impressive for the Steel, with her exceptional speed and deft feeding in to the circle a feature of her game.
Barrett-Chase was one of the stand-outs for the Steel in recent weeks, leading her side's late charge up the ANZ Championship ladder with impressive wins over the Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic and Queensland Firebirds.
Her unavailability will leave the Ferns selectors scratching around for candidates to fill the void in the midcourt.
Veteran centre and mother of three Julie Seymour has yet to confirm whether she will be available for a busy international season, which leaves her Tactix teammate Maree Bowden and the Magic's Laura Langman as the only incumbents.
Weighing up the midcourt alternatives is likely to be at the top of Silver Ferns coach Ruth Aitken's agenda when she returns from holiday at the end of the week.
Central Pulse workhorse Cushla Lichtwark and the Steel's Erika Burgess have been touted as possible inclusions, but with the Ferns looking light on attacking options, they may opt to recall Magic captain Amigene Metcalfe, who already has a strong combination with shooters Irene van Dyk and Maria Tutaia.
Barrett-Chase said that while it was disappointing to miss out on the international season this year, she still had plenty of time to achieve her long-term goal of playing at a world championships.
"They've only got the internationals in New Zealand and a few in Australia this year and I was more aiming towards the world champs and that sort of thing so I didn't want to hold off for another four years to have another baby," she said.
"In that way the timing is quite good. I've missed my chance this year but I'll definitely be knocking on the door for next year."
Barrett-Chase, who has a 5-year-old daughter, Brooklyn, found out she was having a baby about four games into the ANZ Championship season and said she had found the going unexpectedly tough.
"It's been quite hard the second time around. I've been nauseous, I can't really eat much, been really tired and I'm getting bigger already."
Despite the tiredness and morning sickness, the 23-year-old is trying to keep fit throughout her pregnancy in a bid to be back on court in next year's transtasman competition.
"I've been given a training programme to sort of keep me exercising and keep my body intact as much as possible and yeah, hopefully can just pop it out and get back on the court again," said Barrett-Chase, who is due in mid-January.
Barrett-Chase isn't the only one in the Steel camp having a baby in the off-season. Assistant coach Donna Wilkins (formerly Loffhagen) is expecting her first child in late November, and has not ruled out a comeback to netball next season. It is believed the Steel are also in talks with star wing-attack Wilson to return next season.
