It is something many fans will be wondering after the team struggled without her in the middle two quarters in its win over the Mainland Tactix last Sunday.
The team scored just 25 goals in that time, to the 31 of the winless Tactix.
If that was anything to go by, it would leave some concern as to how the team would fare if the 1.98m goal shoot became unavailable.
As it looks ahead to its next match against the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic in Rotorua tomorrow, it will be hoping that situation does not come to fruition.
Former Silver Ferns goal attack and now-Sky Sport commentator Belinda Colling said the team could still win without Fowler-Reid, although not in the same manner.
"I think without Fowler-Reid they wouldn’t be so dominant," she said.
"So yes, it would be more even with the other top three teams: Magic, Mystics and Pulse."
Colling said the other Steel players did not step up as much as they should have last weekend, although she admitted it was harder work feeding the ball in Fowler-Reid’s absence.
That forced them to change their style on attack, with the long feed not being as safe an option, she said.
"I think with Fowler-Reid they have the ability to score quickly and accurately and perhaps not have to work as hard to get the ball to a shooter.
"So feeding someone who’s of her height and ability is a lot easier than someone who’s not Jhaniele Fowler-Reid.
"So it probably just makes their jobs easier with her out there.
"There’s nothing wrong with any of the form or the skill level or anything that the others have.
"They just would have to stand up a little bit more if she’s not on the court and I don’t think they did that last week, which I think was a bit disappointing."
Fowler-Reid had been a stand out this season, whereas no other player in the competition had quite the same impact on a team, Colling said.
That had created some of the uneveness in the competition, but she thought it was on the other teams to reach the Jamaican’s level.
"She’s in great form. You don’t want to take anything away from her. She’s really developed her game.
"Why shouldn’t she just keep being dominant? Everyone’s got to get better."
Heading into its match against the Magic, the Steel is looking to extend its winning streak to nine matches.
The obvious key to beating the Steel is containing Fowler-Reid and the Magic was a team with players that could do that, she said.
Colling thought any of the Magic, Pulse or Mystics could trip the Steel up and defenders Casey Kopua and Kelly Jury would be key figures tomorrow.
However, the Steel remained unbeaten at this stage and Colling said it was a realistic target to keep that record right through to the end of the season.
"Absolutely, and I think that should be their goal to keep it going.
"They’ve been so impressive and a season undefeated is the ultimate for a team."
ANZ Premiership
Rotorua, tomorrow, 2pm
Southern Steel: Wendy Frew (c), Te Huinga Reo Selby-Rickit, Jane Watson, Abby Erwood, Gina Crampton, Shannon Francois, Jamie Hume, Jennifer O’Connell, Te Paea Selby-Rickit, Jhaniele Fowler-Reid.
Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic: Casey Kopua, Kelly Jury, Monica Faulkner, Sam Sinclair, Grace Rasmussen, Lenzie Potgieter, Sydney Fraser, Alex Macleod-Smith, Amorangi Malesala, Grace Kukutai.
