Phoenix Karaka fits that mould. She started out as a shooter but is now trying to grasp every opportunity she gets for the Steel in the goal defence bib.
The athletic 19-year-old, a transplanted Aucklander, made a positive impact for her side in the 73-63 win against Mystics on Sunday.
It was her third appearance for the Steel and her best effort to date. Her extra elevation created a few problems for the Mystics feeders and those skills could well come in handy against the Magic in Invercargill today.
If Karaka gets an opportunity - and it will probably be from the bench, if she does - she will be marking her idol, Irene van Dyk, and tying to bring her hero down a peg or two.
Sulu Tone-Fitzpatrick has first dibs on the Steel goal defence bib. She has been a regular starter there and played alongside van Dyk at the Magic last year.
''Obviously, I'm real keen to get on court but I need to sit back and realise that it is still my first year and I'm still learning and getting the experience,'' Karaka said.
''[Sulu] knows how Irene plays, so that is a big advantage for us. But we've got to keep doing what we have been doing and just change it up if it is not working during the game.''
If Karaka does get off the bench, it will be a thrill for her to mark van Dyk.
''It would be cool but nerve-racking as well. I used to play shooter when I was growing up and she was one of my idols.''
Karaka should be prepared for the challenge. She flats with Steel shooter Jhaniele Fowler and the Jamaican international has made a huge impact on the tournament in her debut season. She is the competition's leading scorer with 368 goals in seven games and, at 1.98m, she is the toughest defensive assignment in the tournament.
Karaka counts herself lucky to be able to train alongside Fowler and go up against her at every training session. It has helped her game immensely.
Fowler's skills do not extend just to the netball court. The word is she is a very handy cook, albeit a little heavy-handed with the spices.
Actually, Karaka cannot complain. The self-confessed non-cook loves spicy food but draws the line at some of the more quintessentially Caribbean fare.
''She has been tempted to buy cow's feet and chicken feet and I've been like, 'You're not buying that in our shopping','' Karaka said.
The game is crucial for both teams. The Magic holds on to fourth spot courtesy of superior goal percentage, but the Steel can leapfrog the Magic with a win.
The Magic has history on its side with eight wins from 11 games and has won four of the last five encounters.
But the Steel has improved greatly in the last month. It has won three consecutive games to get itself into playoff contention, and it beat the Magic 49-47 the last time the two teams met in Invercargill.
Both sides rely on the form of their ace shooters. Fowler has been a force for the Steel and goal attack Jodi Brown has been happy to feed Fowler, although did shoot her first perfect game with 14 from 14 against the Mystics.
While van Dyk has been the benchmark shooter in world netball for more than a decade, the 40-year-old's impact is just starting to wane. She is still deadly accurate with 193 goals at 94.1%. But her season average of 27.6 goals is below her ANZ Championship career average of 31.6 goals.
The Magic and Silver Ferns defensive pairing of Casey Kopua and Leana de Bruin will present Fowler with her biggest challenge to date.
How that battle pans out could shape the outcome of the game.
ANZ Championship
Steel v Magic
Where: Stadium Southland, Invercargill.
When: Today, 4.20pm.
Record: Played 11, Steel 3, Magic 8.
