No Daneka Wipiiti, no Natasha Chokljat, no Sheryl Scanlan made for a long night for the Southern Steel during its ANZ Championship opening match against the Northern Mystics in Auckland last night.
Hit by injuries, a depleted Steel line-up approached the game with a positive attitude.
But from the outset it was apparent last year's semifinalist was going to struggle.
The game was barely seconds old when the ball sailed over the sideline instead of into a pair of Steel hands.
It was a bumbling start and it set the tone for the visitor.
The Mystics also showed signs of rustiness, but had too much class - pulling away to win comfortably 51-34.
Shooter Cathrine Latu produced a dominant performance, landing 31 from 36 attempts.
Ultimately, her shooting was probably the biggest difference between the teams.
With Wipiiti sidelined with an ankle injury, the Steel was forced to start with 19-year-old Otago shooter Te Paea Selby-Rickit.
The teenager gave a reasonable account of herself (12 from 19), but wily defender Anna Scarlett was able to exploit the youngster's inexperience and got the benefit of the doubt with some 50-50 calls.
With her side trailing 24-16 at halftime, coach Robyn Broughton replaced Selby-Rickit with former Silver Ferns shooter Tania Dalton.
Dalton has not played netball at the top level since 2006, but certainly did not look out of place.
The 39-year-old drilled six goals from seven attempts but lasted just 12 minutes, succumbing to a calf injury.
With nowhere else to go, Broughton brought Selby-Rickit back into the match.
Meanwhile, goal attack Paula Griffin (16 from 21) continued to lope around the court, failing to impress in her debut for the franchise.
It is a big year for Griffin.
The Steel is her third franchise in four years and the jury is out on whether the once highly-rated shooter has the ability to lift her game.
She looked sluggish and her combination with wing attack Liana Leota lacked fluency.
Leota, who left the court late in match with a calf injury, told Sky Sport all the injuries had taken some zip out of the Steel's combinations.
"It has been a huge disruption," she said.
"Especially for me [not] having Daneka.
"She is a target and I can let the ball go.
"But we have been working with Te Paea these last two weeks and working with everybody.
"So I don't know, I suppose it is just experience and composure at times and just doing the basics."
The Mystics contributed to a disappointing opening 15min.
But late in the quarter, the Aucklanders managed to string together a series of phases and a four goal run to take a three goal lead in a low-scoring quarter (10-7).
Leota was too ambitious with some of her passes and the Steel shooters were wobbly under the hoop.
Defensively, though, Leana de Bruin had a strong opening quarter, grabbing a couple of intercepts, and her combination with goal defence Te Huinga Reo Selby-Rickit was probably the highlight for the Steel.
The Steel had plenty of turnover ball to work with in the second period but just could not finish, and another damaging late run by the Mystics saw the gap balloon to eight goals.
Hope sprung eternal when Dalton was on the court and the Steel arguably had its best patch. with the sprightly veteran making an impact.
Even with her steadying presence, the Mystics were able to stretch their lead to 10 goals and outscored the demoralised Steel 15-8 in the last period to complete a 17-goal rout.
