It has been a season of change for Southern Steel midcourter Shannon Francois.
The 24-year-old has made the transition from wing attack to centre, and is also nearing the end of her first season as the team's vice-captain.
While the Steel has been ''inconsistent'' and has its work cut out to make the ANZ Championship playoffs, Francois has enjoyed having a leadership role behind captain Wendy Frew.
''It's been really exciting,'' Francois said.
''Wendy has been doing a great job, so she's been making it very easy for me to just help out when I need to.''
Francois was the logical choice as vice-captain at the start of the season. She will become the franchise's equal third most-capped player when she plays her 48th game against the Central Pulse in Palmerston North on Sunday night.
Only Frew (87) and Liana Leota (54), who now plays for the Pulse, have made more appearances for the Steel in its eight-year history.
Former Silver Ferns and Steel shooter Daneka Wipiiti also earned 48 caps for the Steel.
With midcourter Phillipa Finch gone from last year, Francois shifted inside to centre - allowing promising 23-year-old Gina Crampton to emerge at wing attack.
Francois could benefit from the move if she makes the national squad for the World Cup in Sydney later in the year, with calls for incumbent centre Laura Langman to shift to wing defence.
Francois, a Motueka-born pharmacist, is still adjusting to playing at centre and cannot decide if she prefers it to wing attack.
''I go through phases,'' she said.
''I enjoy one and then I hate the other. But it's been great having Gina [Crampton] at wing attack this year. She's really grown and she just makes it so easy for me as a centre. I just fill in the gaps, so that's been quite good for the transition.''
Francois has made 14 appearances for the Silver Ferns since debuting two years ago, and has been attending monthly camps in Auckland with a wider training squad since February.
However, she is refusing to let herself look past the Steel's ANZ Championship campaign, which is teetering with just three rounds left.
The Steel is still in control of its own destiny - if it wins its final three games it is guaranteed a spot in the playoffs - but Francois knows that is easier said than done.
The agonising 59-53 loss to the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic in Hamilton last weekend, when the Steel had led by two with six minutes left, proved that.
''It was hugely frustrating,'' Francois said.
''Everyone was extremely disappointed. That wasn't how we want to play netball whatsoever. But we had a good debrief straight after the game and all came together [yesterday].
''Just working on things that didn't go so well and just looking after our ball and making sure we have some punch on attack has been the key focus. Everyone is in good spirits and is keen to hit the Pulse hard this weekend.''
The Steel has had a habit of fading late in games this season, something which can be attributed to a lack of experience, Francois said.
''For a lot of the girls, it's their first year playing consistent court time at this level. Just getting used to being able to back performances up week after week. It definitely took me a few years to get some consistency in my game.''
Francois is contracted to the Steel until the end of the season, and will reassess ''what I feel like doing'' after her team's final game.
However, she has enjoyed her time in Invercargill and does not see ''any reason'' to entertain playing elsewhere next year.
