The bubbles might have to go on ice for another season as well.
The Steel limps into its doubleheader against the Magic tomorrow and the Tactix on Monday with just one win from seven games and two new shooters.
Goal shoot Jen O’Connell has been ruled out for the season with a serious knee injury. She fell awkwardly during the final stages of the narrow loss to the Pulse during the last round.
Fellow shooter Georgia Heffernan had previously been ruled out with a knee injury as well.
Training partner Kiana Pelasio and Beko League shooter Grace Namana filled in during the last game.
Pelasio probably has the inside running for the starting spot, alongside Trinidad and Tobago international Kalifa McCollin.
The 21-year-old is from a sporty family. The Pelasios are rather handy touch rugby players and made up a good chunk of the Otago open mixed team at the nationals in Rotorua earlier this year.
She joined her older brother Ty and younger sister Talei in the side. Kiana has also represented New Zealand in touch, but has turned her focus to netball in the past few years.
She joined the Steel as a training partner this season. But she made her debut against the Pulse, replacing the injured O’Connell.
And the following evening she started against the Northern Stars. The learning curve has taken a sudden and dramatic upward turn.
"I’m lucky I have a really supportive team around me who are always there to help," she said.
"But the nerves were pretty hard to be honest, but I think I settled into it a little bit better.
"Obviously you don’t know how much of a step up it is until you get on court.
"But you can’t think about it too much, otherwise the nerves will overwhelm you."
She roped in her brother Ty to help at training this week.
"I had him come along so I could have big tall arms up over my shot. But also if I miss I have to dump it [the disappointment] and focus on the next play.
"And Kali, who is in the shooting circle with me, is really supportive as well."
McCollin has had her own challenges. She has taken a while to adjust to the style of netball played in New Zealand.
But in the absence of O’Connell, the 25-year-old took on a more active role during the 48-39 loss to the Stars.
She landed 27 of her 29 attempts, and the Steel will look to its key player for a similar performance.
But it is in the midcourt where the Steel will feel it has the edge against the Magic and the Tactix.
Silver Ferns Gina Crampton and Shannon Saunders and rangy wing defence Kate Heffernan form a formidable trio, and generate plenty of turnover ball.
The Magic beat the Steel 54-48 prior to lockdown, but have not posted a win since. It has secured a couple of draws, including a 46-46 result against the Tactix on Monday.
Former Steel shooter Te Paea Selby-Rickit notched her 100th league game last week and will renew her gentle battle with older sister and Steel co-captain Te Huinga Reo Selby-Rickit.
Imposing Tactix defensive duo Temalisi Fakahokotau and Jane Watson will make shooting that much harder.
Between them they have made nearly 60 deflections and pulled down 19 rebounds.
The Steel will not get too many second opportunities to put the ball in the net.
