Silver Ferns shooting star Grace Nweke admits she's still an injury risk, as her team prepare for the Constellation Cup decider against Australia at Auckland on Monday.
The towering attacker has been eased back into action during New Zealand's trans-Tasman campaign against Australia, but has shown she is nearing full fitness, after a knee injury struck her down during the World Cup in July.
Nweke was a dominant force, as the Ferns kept the series alive with a 56-53 victory over the world champions at Invercargill, but warns she is still being closely managed, as she builds towards a full workload.
"I'm feeling really good after the game," she told Newshub. "I think it has been actually quite a quick build to get me onto the court and it's been a really difficult process at times.
"I've been really supported by our staff and our management, who have helped me get here. I'm really happy with the minutes I've been getting and hoping to have that build over the next couple of days.
"We'll see what happens, but I'm still an injury risk, still coming back. I'm happy to be on court, and playing confidently and strongly."
After missing the entire Taini Jamison Trophy series against England this month and sitting out the opener against Australia at Melbourne, Nweke played the second and fourth quarters at Brisbane, before starting the contest at Stadium Southland.
With her towering attack available for just three quarters, coach Dame Noeline Taurua strategically subbed her off midway through the third period and brought her back in the final moments of the fourth to close out the win.
Nweke shot 34/36 (94 percent) for the game, including 6/6 in the dying stages, and provided a big target under goal for her feeders, who missed that presence during the business end of a disappointing World Cup outcome.
"It's been a really big confidence boost to play that first test for the two quarters and be able to slowly build as we go along," she said. "I'm feeling stronger and stronger every training, every game, every day.
"The connection with my feeders and the other shooters has been great as well. Going into this last test, I'm feeling really good, I'm playing without fear and really confident, so I'm looking forward to getting some minutes out there."
In Nweke's absence, Taurua has been able to introduce rookie Amelia Walmsley into that dominant shooter role, giving her a useful one-two punch that was somewhat lacking before.
With Nweke off the court, Walmsley provided a 8/10 cameo to help New Zealand regain a lead in the final quarter, before handing off to her senior teammate for the final flourish.
The result gives the Ferns a faint chance of lifting the silverware for the third time in its 14-year history, but they must win the fourth test by 17 goals at Auckland's Spark Arena. New Zealand achieved their biggest win 61-35 over the Diamonds in 2005.
Join Newshub at 4pm Monday for live updates of the Silver Ferns v Australia Constellation Cup decider
