Natalie von Bertouch in action against South Africa. Photo: Getty Images
Natalie von Bertouch's stop-start netball season is about to hit full pace, with the Australian captain confident she's poised to find form after an injury-interrupted year.
Von Bertouch was late joining her Australian teammates in Wellington for the second leg of the quad series with New Zealand, South Africa and England.
An ankle injury in last Sunday's 68-48 thumping of New Zealand was her third inside a year, and she was kept back for scans and assessment.
The resulting all-clear has left her keen to take the court in Thursday's match against South Africa.
Von Bertouch made a somewhat indifferent start to the international calendar last month as Australia lost the Constellation Cup to New Zealand.
But a week-long break from netball was all she needed to recharge the batteries.
''I had a week when I didn't even go to the netball court - it was just the refreshment I needed.
''Then I got right back into it and worked really hard, fine-tuning some of my footwork, and I feel I've been playing a lot better.''
As well battling ankle problems, the 29-year-old midcourter lost valuable game time towards the end of the trans-Tasman netball league with a fractured finger which needed surgery.
''It just takes its toll - you're playing at international level and if you're five per cent off your game, it shows.
''Injuries really do impact on your form.''
Form is not something the Diamonds need to worry about, going by Sunday's commanding victory over the hapless Silver Ferns.
However, von Bertouch says the Diamonds have already consigned that win to history.
''You need to refocus - it's great having a win like that, but you've got to get back down to earth pretty quickly.
''You need to be able to back that up.''
To that end, the Australians are focusing on another strong start against the unpredictable South Africans.
The Diamonds may have looked indomitable a week ago in beating the Proteas 63-31, but the reality was a little different.
''After that game in Newcastle, we were all buggered,'' von Bertouch said. ''They run and use unconventional styles of play. We're expecting to win, but we're expecting it to be a challenge.''
AAP
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