Netball: Wilson eager for return to play

File photo of Adine Wilson. Photo by NZPA.
File photo of Adine Wilson. Photo by NZPA.
Adine Wilson is bubbling with enthusiasm as she looks forward to this weekend's Southern Steel training camp in preparation for her debut in the Trans-Tasman netball championship in April.

The former Silver Ferns captain missed the inaugural season last year after taking time out to have her son, Harper, who is now nine-months old.

"It's been a long time since I've been in netball mode," said Wilson who announced she was pregnant immediately at the conclusion of the 2007 world championship in Auckland.

"I'm really looking forward to it and it will be great for all of us to be together as a team for the first time."

Wilson, the wife of former All Black wing Jeff Wilson, is eager to put the polish back in her game.

"It's hard to get those ball skills down when you're out on the farm training and pushing a pram as well," she said.

"It will be great to get into camp and step up the intensity."

The squad boasts four new faces in Wilson, international defender Sheryl Scanlan who played for the Northern Mystics last season, Australian Leah Shoard and former Silver Ferns shooter Donna Wilkins, the asssistant coach last year.

Former Canterbury coach Marg Foster replaces Wilkins as Robyn Broughton's assistant.

"The girls have been training very hard (but) now it's time to bring it all together and sharpen those skills," Broughton said.

"The focus will be on time together and setting the standards for the season ahead."

The camp kick-starts a hectic pre-season schedule for the Steel which includes a tournament in Queenstown from February 20-22 featuring defending champion NSW Swifts, Northern Mystics, Canterbury Tactix and the Australian Institute of Sport team.