KEY POINTS:
This weekend's opening round of the transtasman netball championship signifies the first milestone for former Silver Ferns defender Vilimaina Davu in her quest to recapture her world-beating form of old.
Davu has had just two weeks to properly steel herself for the new competition after sneaking past Netball New Zealand's eligibility committee.
The national body initially ruled Davu was not up to the standard required for the ANZ Championship based on her performances for Fiji at the last World Championships, where she was a player-coach. Davu endured stinging criticism for being overweight and unfit for the tournament, where she failed to make an impact for the injury-hit Fijians.
But now the face of weight-loss company Jenny Craig, Davu has shed a great deal of weight and is determined to get back in the shape required to play top-level netball.
Davu said yesterday it had been a long hard slog to get herself ready for elite competition and she was not entirely there yet.
The formidable defender won't put a figure on the amount of weight she has lost, but estimates her fitness to be at about 75 per cent and hopes to be back at her peak mid-way through the season.
But, she points out, she is in better shape than when playing for the Force in last year's National Bank Cup.
"It has been hard but I'm just glad I was allowed to play and it is up to me to get ready to get out on court and produce the goods.
"I just can't wait to get back in to top level competition and experience it all again."
Mystics coach Yvonne Willering would not reveal whether she planned to play Davu in tomorrow's opening round match against the Canterbury Tactix, but said the towering defender was ready to take the court if needed.
"Everyone has got to be ready and prepared to take the court and I think I'm in the position whereby I've got a number of different combinations going," she said.
Though the Tactix will be no easy-beats, the Mystics are familiar with their style of play and tomorrow's match could be the perfect opportunity for Willering to introduce Davu for even just a quarter.
"She obviously hasn't had as much game time as I would have liked, but it's a long season and we will bring her in gradually."
Willering said she was incredibly proud of the determination Davu had shown to get herself back in to shape, and the veteran coach was certain she would have a big influence on the Mystics.
"What she lacks in match fitness she makes up for passion and desire and she just lifts people around her," she said.
"She's that sort of a player - I don't like the word impact player, but, boy, when she comes on to the court she adds a different dimension to the game."
The ANZ Championship starts today in Wellington with the Central Pulse taking on the talent-stacked Melbourne Vixens in what is likely to be one of the biggest mis-matches of the competition. The Vixens, led by Australian star Sharelle McMahon, are $3 favourites to win the competition, while the Pulse's premiership chances are rated at $125.
Tomorrow's play sees two local derbies, with the Mystics taking on the Tactix and the Queensland Firebirds meeting the Perth-based West Coast Fever.
Perhaps the most intense battles will come in the two Monday matches, which feature four teams all tipped to be semifinal contenders.
The Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic are set for a tough opening round clash against the highly-regarded Adelaide Thunderbirds, who have been aggressive in off-season recruiting.
The Thunderbirds have what looks to be the strongest defensive line of all the Australian franchises in outstanding English import Geva Mentor and athletic defender Mo'onia Gerrard. The pair will be a huge test for the Magic's all-star shooting end of Irene van Dyk and Maria Tutaia.
In the late Monday game, the Southern Steel will become the first New Zealand team to play on Australian soil, against the New South Wales Swifts.
Steel defender Megan Hutton, who only just joined the franchise after returning from English Superleague duty in the UK, may be thrust into action straight away with the tough task of trying to unsettle NSW and Australian goalshoot Catherine Cox.
TODAY
Central Pulse v Melbourne Vixens, Wellington, 2.30pm
TOMORROW
Queensland Firebirds v West Coast Fever, Brisbane, 3pm; Northern Mystics v Canterbury Tactix, 5.30pm
MONDAY
Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic v Adelaide Thunderbirds, Rotorua, 7pm; NSW Swifts v Southern Steel, Sydney, 9pm
