No-one wants to sit on the sideline game after game, and new Steel recruit Erena Mikaere is no different.
The former Magic player has spent way too much time watching her old team-mates Casey Kopua and Leana de Bruin strut their stuff. They are brilliant players to watch and learn from, but you can only master so much sitting down.
After three years with the Magic, the towering 1.93m defender has moved south from Rotorua to Invercargill with partner William Creighton and daughter Bileigh, so she can pursue more court time with the Steel.
The Steel had its moments on defence last season but, on the whole, it was an area where the franchise needed to lift its game.
Mikaere (25) is part of that plan but was overlooked in the opening game against the Firebirds, which the Steel lost 60-44.
''It is a good opportunity,'' Mikaere said of her move south.
''But there are still good players down here with the likes of Phoenix [Karaka], who has just pushed into the Silver Ferns recently, and Rachel [Rasmussen], who is a solid starter and defender for the Steel, and then you've got Storm [Purvis], who is coming through the under-21s.
''So, it is still really hard here because no-one is going to give up their spot easily.
''You have always got that thing on the sideline where you really want to get on. You wouldn't be a competitor if you didn't want to get on.
''Whenever I get that opportunity I'll have to make the most of it.''
Rasmussen is the most experienced of the Steel's defenders and she started the opening game alongside Karaka. Purvis came on in the fourth quarter when the Steel was already out of the contest. It was the perfect opportunity for coach Janine Southby to see what Mikaere had to offer.
Southby's decision is perhaps an indication Mikaere still has some work to do to move up in the pecking order.
That pecking order may come under pressure this afternoon, though. The Steel plays the Pulse in Wellington, and the last time the two sides met, the Pulse won 73-64. It remains the most goals the Steel has conceded in the ANZ Championship.
To make matters worse, Silver Ferns shooter Irene van Dyk has joined the Pulse this season after six years with the Magic. She will combine in the shooting circle with the vastly experienced Donna Wilkins.
The Pulse had the second best shooting accuracy in round one with 44 goals from 51 attempts (86.3%).
Whoever gets the circle defender bibs for the Steel will have a serious challenge.
The head-to-head battles between the two sides has the Steel enjoying a 8-4 advantage but Pulse coach and former Steel coach Robyn Broughton has been involved in all 12 games and has never been on the losing side.
ANZ Championship: Steel v Pulse
Where: TSB Bank Arena, Wellington.
When: Today, 4.20pm.
Steel: Jhaniele Fowler-Reid, Jodi Brown (captain), Shannon Francois, Phillipa Finch, Wendy Frew, Rachel Rasmussen, Phoenix Karaka, Te Paea Selby-Rickit, Storm Purvis, Gina Crampton, Erena Mikaere, Stacey Peeters.
Pulse: Irene van Dyk, Donna Wilkins, Camilla Lees, Elias Shadrock, Joline Henry, Te Huinga Reo Selby-Rickit, Katrina Grant (captain), Ama Agbeze, Katarina Cooper, Paula Griffin, Claire Kersten, Gemma Hazeldine.
