Megan Hutton is not 100% but after five weeks on the sideline she is desperate to get back on court for her side's crucial match against the Mystics in Auckland tonight.
The Steel defender has not played since the franchise's opening game against the Central Pulse on April 4.
"Five weeks out of a competition of this level is quite hard but I feel like I'm ready to come back," Hutton said.
"Perhaps not for a full game yet but I'll be there."
The experienced goal keep injured her Achilles tendon during a pre-season tournament in Sydney and played through pain during the Steel's 55-46 win over the Pulse.
But the injury persisted and Hutton was forced to rest.
"I needed to get my Achilles better and by [taking the time off] I've actually done that. Touch wood, I'm hoping everything will go according to plan and I won't have to miss any more games."
The 33-year-old kept herself match-fit by swimming, stretching and doing aerobic work at the gym but conceded she was not back to full fitness.
"I'm definitely close enough," she said.
However, with the pace and speed the game is played at these days, Hutton felt she might struggle to play a full 60 minutes.
Whatever she can contribute, her return will be welcomed.
The Steel suffered its biggest defeat when it lost to the Vixens 48-31 in Melbourne two weeks ago.
"A loss is a loss. We just have to take what we can from it and dump it, really. We have to move on and for us to do that we have to leave that behind."
Both teams will be desperate for the two competition points.
The Steel is in seventh place with two wins from four matches.
The Mystics are in eighth with two wins from five matches.
A loss would not end either side's semifinal prospects but it would certainly lengthen the odds.
The Mystics won both matches last year, including a 47-41 win in Auckland which halted the Steel's charge up the competition ladder late in the season.
"They have always been a team that we want to beat and we know they are beatable from watching their past performances. But we can't worry about them and just have to worry about what we can do.
"And that's concentrating on getting enough turnover ball, putting our shots up and retaining our centre pass."
If Hutton gets on court she will renew her rivalry with Mystics shooter Cathrine Latu.
Latu is one of the competition's leading shooters with 114 goals from 127 attempts.
England international Pamela Cookey has been solid rather than spectacular for the Mystics and Jade Topia is also useful.
Daneka Wipiiti is the best-performed Steel shooter with 126 goals from 153 attempts.
But team-mate Donna Wilkins is yet to produce her best form.
The dual international has landed 59 of her 83 attempts and is well down the list.
