Gymnasts treasure balance above all else but New Zealand's buildup to the Commonwealth Games has strayed somewhat from the equilibrium.
The women's artistic team are down to the bare bones thanks to the loss of one team member while the men's team - the best medal hope in Delhi - are nervous about a knee injury suffered by Russian-born Misha Koudinov.
It's been smoother sailing for the three-pronged rhythmic team comprising Christchurch trio Kimberley Robson, Mereana Rademakers and former Australian representative Keziah Oliver
They will hope progress made on a recent European sojourn will manifest into competitive showings when the curtain comes down on the Games, with Oliver's ribbon prowess tipped as a visual treat.
However, the best prospects come in the opening days when the five-man team try to at least match the floor bronze medal claimed by their coach David Phillips at the 1998 Kuala Lumpur Games, the last time a New Zealand gymnast has climbed the dais.
Ranked fourth in the Commonwealth, there is a quiet confidence in the combined credentials Koudinov, Christchurch's Matthew Palmer and Auckland trio Patrick Peng, Brandon Field and Mark Holyoake - the latter lining up for his third Games crack at the venerable gymnastics age of 27.
There will be individual apparatus and all around medals up for grabs, with gymnasts from Australia, Canada and Great Britain sure to be the toughest nuts to crack.
However, a first New Zealand teams medal at the Games looms if everything falls into place.
That must include a return to a physical and mental peak for Koudinov, the Westlake Boys High School workaholic who was born and raised in Vladivostok before shifting to Auckland as a seven-year-old.
He dislocated his left knee at one of his gruelling training sessions this month, before shocking himself with his response.
"The good thing is that I put it back into place almost immediately, and it wasn't out of bravery, but the exact opposite," he wrote on his website.
"The first time it happened (with my right knee) the medics took about 30 minutes to arrive, and that amount of time with a dislocated knee isn't a nice experience.
"…so I remembered the "straighten your leg" (advice) and did just that. With a little help from my hands it went back into place. Because it went back in so fast, the damage was minimal."
Gymsports New Zealand chief executive Sarah Ashmole said Koudinov was still favouring the knee and produced a "watered down" performance at the national championships in Hamilton last Friday.
"But he's got another week and the physios are confident he can perform without any problem. These gymnasts are tough, you know."
Koudinov burst onto the scene at Melbourne in 2006 where he became the youngest New Zealand male to compete at a Games when aged 14.
He qualified for the all-around final and soon afterwards snared New Zealand's first medal at a junior Pacific Alliance championships.
He competed at the 2007 and 2009 world championships and a repeat of his personal best 15.15 points on the floor last year in Japan would have him in the hunt for gold at Delhi.
Injury has had even great repercussions for the women's team.
Lani Hohepa was forced to pull out with a back problem last month, leaving a minimum of three to chase team glory. It means they can't drop any low scores, placing pressure on Holly Moon, Jordan Rae and Briana Mitchell.
Moon has had a disrupted preparation, relocating to train in Auckland after her gym in Christchurch was damaged by the massive earthquake to strike the city.
New Zealand gymnastics team:
Men's artistic - Misha Koudinov (North Harbour), Matthew Palmer (Christchurch), Patrick Peng (Auckland), Mark Holyoake (Auckland), Brandon Field (Auckland)
Women's artistic - Holly Moon (Christchurch), Jordan Rae (Counties Manukau), Briana Mitchell (North Harbour)
Rhythmic - Keziah Oliver (Christchurch), Kimberley Robson (Christchurch), Mereana Rademakers (Christchurch)
