Tough task for understrength Steel

Cue the Mission Impossible music.

The Steel will play the Sunshine Coast Lightning in warm-up matches across the Tasman tonight and again on Sunday.

As if playing in Australia was not hard enough, the Steel will do it minus 40% of its squad and with a game plan about as transparent as the cling wrap  around your sandwiches.

On the other hand, the Lightning boasts a spine of Geva Mentor, Laura Langman and Caitlin Bassett — three of the best players in the world — and is led by former Steel coach Noeline Taurua.

It could be toast for the Steel. And there is nothing the New Zealanders can throw at the Lightning Taurua will not be expecting.

The up side is the Steel has escaped New Zealand’s "summer" for the weekend.

"It is more about business than enjoying the sun at the moment," veteran midcourter Wendy Frew said.

"We’ll try to get a bit of down time but the main purpose of the trip is to get in some training."

The Steel will have to make do without Silver Ferns Shannon Francois, Gina Crampton, Te Paea Selby-Rickit and Jane Watson who have been on tour with the national side.

However, star shooter Jhaniele Fowler-Reid is available and her presence will be a huge boost. At her best, the towering 1.98m sharpshooter is unstoppable.

Ngawa Eyles, Sophie Erwood, Aliyah Dunn and Dani Gray have been drafted into the Steel to fill the gaps left by the Silver Ferns foursome.

"It is a big challenge without the four Ferns girls but the good thing about it is we are developing a lot of home-grown players. They are getting exposure to being in the franchise, being on tour and experiencing game day against a quality side like the Sunshine Coast Lightning."

Frew is expecting the Lightning will play its strongest side on Sunday in preparation for its opening game in the Australian league against the Queensland Firebirds on February 18.

"I’m looking forward to seeing what we can put out there against a team stacked with internationals."

The games are being played at the University of the Sunshine Coast in Sippy Downs — an area which sounds a bit too much like a resort where they put umbrellas in your drink. 

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