The Southern Steel have really managed to find a lot of positives in adversity.
Now it has found possibly the most significant of those - its two newest players.
Olivia Bates and Dani Gray signed with the franchise yesterday, alongside experienced sisters Te Paea and Te Huinga Reo Selby-Rickit, who return for another year.
The new duo had both spent time in the Steel environment, notably at the end of the 2017 ANZ Premiership after a van accident in Christchurch left it short of players.
It was their performance after being called up for the game against the Tactix following the crash - which the Steel won 51-46 - that set the way for their ultimate promotion.
''I think it was watching those players perform in Christchurch against the Tactix after our van tipped over and we lost some of our key attacking players,'' Steel chief executive Lana Winders said when asked why the duo were signed.
''It was the way they performed there and the way they backed up that performance in the Super Club, particularly in the grand final.
''It was pretty exciting stuff, to see all the work we'd put into those young players come to fruition.
''And for them to be able to step up and mix it at that level of intensity was really exciting.''
In the duo the team added a goal attack in Bates and a midcourter in Gray.
Winders said Bates possessed sublime feeding skills and composure under pressure, while Gray was a talent the team had been looking at for the past few years.
The move has Gray join the trio of Shannon Francois, Gina Crampton and injured captain Wendy Frew in the midcourt.
After only taking those three into the 2017 campaign, Winders said the situation was different this year.
''I think every season it's a little bit different.
''We just cast our minds forward to where we think we have to bolster our development.
''Last year, when we cast our minds forward to the prospect of Jhaniele [Fowler-Reid] leaving, we decided to put that extra shoot in there and have four shoots running in the squad of 10.
''But this year it is about providing that support into the midcourt and particularly with Wendy's injury, it will be good to see her get some back up and support from within the squad.''
Winders was also pleased to have re-signed the Selby-Rickits.
Both bring experience and had been key to the 2017 unbeaten season, Te Paea spending most of her time at goal attack and Te Huinga Reo at goal defence.
''The Selby-Rickits were critical parts of our success this year, in both the shooting circle and defensive circle, so very pleased to have them both back.
''We've retained five of our starting seven and I think we can be really pleased with that.
''The Selby-Rickits ... this year provided a significant amount of leadership into their particular areas and I'm just looking forward to seeing them blossom in terms of that leadership going forward into 2018.''
