Silver Ferns shooter Bailey Mes will miss the 2020 ANZ Premiership season, after undergoing knee surgery earlier this month.
The 70-cap international loomed as a crucial piece of the Northern Mystics' title hopes, when the national netball league resumes next month.
But a patela cartilage injury suffered during New Zealand's Nations Cup campaign in January continued to hamper Mes over subsequent months and she went under the knife on May 1.
"Ultimately, it was pretty obvious I needed to get it sorted," she has told Newshub. "It's frustrating, but it's one of those things about being an athlete.
"We've talked about five months being the dream goal, but it could be six months, depending on how it's going.
"I don't know what's happening with the international programme, but that would be the dream result."
The Silver Ferns' next scheduled outing is a home Quad Series against Australia, South Africa and England in September, although border restrictions may yet rule that out.
Mes, 30, has undergone reconstruction on the same knee previously and is well used to managing knee niggles.
But she was a member of the Silver Ferns' triumphant World Cup squad last year, and was poised to step into a senior role at domestic and international level, after Maria Folau's retirement.
The Mystics have now promoted teenage shooter Asher Grapes from their practice squad to replace her under full contract.
"We were personally gutted for Bailey to hear her injury from the Nations Cup tour was season ending, but we are confident she will be back next season as strong as ever," says Mystics coach Helene Wilson.
"Every injury provides a team an opportunity to grow another player, and we are lucky enough to have a team culture that encourages and supports that philosophy.
"We have both Saviour Tui and Asher Grapes ready to step up and take the court, and they will have Bailey’s expertise to support them which is really exciting."
All three frontline Mystics shooters are still in their teens, now led by Grace Nweke (18), with Grapes (19) and Tui (18) in support.
