Grace Nweke is pleased to be in the gym at Auckland's AUT Millennium, nearing full fitness after partially tearing her patella tendon against Singapore at the Netball World Cup.
Her absence was felt at the business end of the tournament, with the Silver Ferns leaving Cape Town without a medal.
"I never had anything like that happen to me before so I found it really hard to process," Nweke told 1News.
"It was really hard to sit there and see them trying their best and struggling at times."
Nweke was frustrated as she felt she could play on. Physio Sharon Kearney and the team doctor wouldn't allow it due to the long term damage the injury could cause.
Former captain Casey Kopua fully ruptured her patella tendon in 2014. She was back on court within 10 months, but Kearney acknowledges Kopua worked hard in her rehab, allowing her to recover faster.
An MRI scan in South Africa confirmed Nweke's diagnosis. Kearney also sought advice from sports doctors in New Zealand.
"If we did not let that injury settle, let our ability to transition her back to full strength and full capability, then I suppose the risk is that you do further damage to that tendon which precludes her ability to playing the sport that she loves, Kearney said.
Nweke's rehab is ahead of schedule and she hopes to take the court in the upcoming Constellation Cup. It's the Ferns' first time against the World Champions since the final of January's Quad Series.
"I've still got a couple bits of testing to complete that will be quite challenging but every day, every week I'm getting in and doing the work."
Australia won that final 56-50 in Cape Town. It included a physical encounter between Nweke and Diamonds defender Courtney Bruce under the post, resulting in a toss up.
Nweke hopes she gets a chance to test herself against Bruce.
"She's a competitive athlete and any goal shoot wants to be up playing against her so I look forward to the opportunity, hopefully it presents itself."
CONSTELLATION CUP - SILVER FERNS VS AUSTRALIAN DIAMONDS
Test one: October 12, John Cain Arena, Melbourne
Test two: October 15, Brisbane Entertainment Centre
Test three: October 19, ILT Stadium Southland, Invercargill
Test four: October 23: Spark Arena, Auckland
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