Sunshine Coast Lightning defenders Karla Pretorius and Phumza Maweni are overseas while pre-season is in swing but they’re still expected to be well prepared for the season.
The duo, who have forged a formidable combination for the team during the past two years, returned to their homeland, South Africa, for summer.
They’re still there, largely because it’s difficult to get flights amid COVID-19 limitations.
They’re booked to fly into Brisbane next month and it’s hoped they will join their team-mates by the end of March after a two-week quarantine.
They’ve missed the start of pre-season training, with trials to start next week, but midcourter Madeline McAuliffe believed the two will be primed for the season start on May 1.
“Phumza and Karla are pretty incredible athletes,” she said at a Lightning sponsorship announcement with Protector Aluminium.
“We’ve been face-timing them a lot and Mark (McKean), our strength and conditioning coach, has been in contact with them.”
They’ve been given specific fitness and training regimes.
“I know they’re working hard at home, and they are used to being away from the team, because they have international commitments with the South African team,” McAuliffe said.
Pretorius is the reigning Lightning player of the year.
Maweni experienced a delayed start to the 2020 pre-season, getting a travel exemption from South Africa to Australia, before settling in for regular game time.
Meanwhile, McAuliffe is working hard for a starting role in the midcourt.
She’s among those who could replace retired club legend Laura Langman at centre.
“Shez (Laura Scherian) and I have been (on court) together with Loz in the team and without …and Mahalia (Cassidy) has come into the team really well and we’re really lucky to have Ash Unie stepping up from training partner into the team,” she said.
McAuliffe is traditionally a wing defence but featured at centre on nine occasions last year.
Scherian, a regular wing attack, only played at centre twice in 2020 but she starred in the position in the absence of Langman in 2018, when the Lightning won the title.
Cassidy saw plenty of game time at centre with the Firebirds before linking with the Lightning during the off-season. She can also play wing attack.
And Unie is predominantly known for her ability in wing defence.
Scherian said they have options.
“I think we’re all quite dynamic in midcourt. I’m hoping to be a bit more versatile through that midcourt.”
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The Lightning were delighted to link with Protector Aluminium this week.
Lightning CEO Danielle Smith welcomed the new partnership.
“We are thrilled to partner with Protector Aluminium and foresee a strong and enduring relationship with another Sunshine Coast-based business,” she said.
Protector Aluminium specialise in manufacturing DIY aluminium, glass, and hardware solutions, as well as being staunch water safety advocates, with products available across Australia and New Zealand.
Protector Aluminium’s Group General Manager, Grant Symes, said they were excited to enter the new partnership.
“Lightning are elite in everything they do on and off court and we view this partnership as a truly mutually beneficial pairing,” Mr Symes said.
“We saw great appeal in collaborating with such a strong, internationally-recognised women’s sporting team with a formidable, local grass-roots focus.”
Protector Aluminium logo will have prominent exposure on the Lightning netball dress and training kit.
The Lightning will contest their first pre-season trial against Firebirds at Morayfield on February 25.
