The Southern Steel's preparations for the 2010 ANZ Championships got under way yesterday, with most of the squad assembling in Invercargill for three days of fitness testing and skill work.
Only former Silver Ferns defender Leana de Bruin has been excused, having given birth to her first child - a boy - "a couple of weeks ago", coach Robyn Broughton said.
Steel shooter Daneka Wipiiti is expected to give birth to her first child in the next two weeks.
She will skip the fitness testing and skill work but will attend the camp all the same.
Broughton said the weekend will end with a practice game against an invitation side tomorrow.
"We've got a few girls coming down from Dunedin and a few from here and are just going to have a hit around, really," she said.
It is also an opportunity to have a chat about where everybody is at and what is expected in terms of fitness.
The Steel will assemble in mid-January and begin preparations in earnest for its opening game against the Fever in Invercargill on March 21.
