No sign of Gretel Bueta as another famous name appears for Firebirds in clash against Melbourne Vixens

There are no signs star shooter Gretel Bueta will be making a comeback to the club anytime soon, but another famous name may appear on the Firebirds’ team sheet.

Rumours of the imminent return of Gretel Bueta seem to be off the mark but there will be another famous surname on the Firebirds team sheet when they face the Melbourne Vixens on Sunday.

A video posted to social media last week showing former Firebirds and Diamonds shooter Bueta working out with Aussie coach Stacey Marinkovich sparked rumours of her return given Tippah Dwan has stepped away from the team to deal with an ongoing knee injury.

Dwan will again be replaced by Abigail Latu-Meafou on Sunday, with no sign of Bueta, who had her third child earlier this year, at training this week and Firebirds officials dismissing talk of her rejoining the club any time soon.

But the club is likely to have a new face on court, with Jess Laga’aia - the daughter of actor Jay Laga’aia - set to become Firebird no.117 if she takes the court for Imogen Allison.

Gretel Bueta has been reportedly working out with Stacey Marinkovich. Picture: Matthew Lewis/Getty Images

Tippah Dwan is taking some time away from the Firebirds. Picture: Jason McCawley/Getty Images

English import Allison will miss the First Nations Round match on Turrbal and Yuggera land after suffering a concussion in training during the week.

Meanwhile, midcourter Macy Gardner has revealed just three turnovers each game have been the difference between the Firebirds being in Super Netball’s top four, or on the end of four consecutive losses, as they will be heading into the clutch clash with the Vixens.

Both the Firebirds and Vixens have managed just two wins from their opening six games - a shock for the Melbourne team after last year’s grand final finish, and a frustrating period for the Birdies after their 2-0 start to the season.

Both are desperate for a victory that will help one side keep touch with the top four after the opening round of fixtures,while the other will be chasing the pack, falling two wins out of finals contention heading into the back half of the season.

Jessie Laga’aia has been named for the Firebirds and could make her Super Netball debut in place of import Imogen Allison. Picture: Supplied

Her father, actor Jay Laga'aia, at Her Magestys theatre in Melbourne. Picture David Geraghty

Gardner said there have been frustrations for the Firebirds when they reviewed matches, understanding that short periods and particular moments had cost them victories that would have put them in the top four.

“We were looking at our stats the other day and the difference between us winning and losing is three turnovers - and for us, they’re just the moments,” Gardner said.

“We’re really practising all week those moments and consolidating and making sure that we put the pressure back on the other team instead of letting it rumble.

“Coming off the back of four losses isn’t great for us but I think the confidence within our group is still there and the fact that we’ve had really great patches throughout games gives us lots of confidence.”

Firebirds’ midcourter Macy Gardner says the moments are costing her side dearly. Picture: Getty Images

Beating the Vixens could be a tough ask given how desperate they will also be to maintain contact with the four and frustrated they will be after mercurial showings so far this season.

But there’s a confidence within the Firebirds that if they can get things right and win those small moments, they can still be a force this year.

They got off the blocks well with wins over the Giants and Fever but will be kicking themselves for lapses in periods against the Swifts and Thunderbirds particularly, feeling they could have added to the “W” tally had they been consistent.

Firebirds Hulita Veve and Lara Dunkley celebrate victory over the Giants in April. Picture: Mark Kolbe Photography/Getty Images

“The confidence we take from our first two wins is huge, and we just need to make sure that against those teams that don’t cough up the ball as much, that we don’t cough it up either,” Gardner said of facing the Vixens, a side that usually control the ball well and rarely give it up cheaply.

“The competition is tight and it’s fierce, and at the end of the day, we just got to focus one game at a time. And yeah, this game is super important for us.”

Gardner is part of a deep Firebirds midcourt that has been challenged this season by the introduction of new players into the circle, including 201cm goal shooter Mary Cholhok, while the recent absence of Dwan has also brought Abigail Latu-Meafou into the mix.

“For us, it’s always just about patience and making sure that we continue to practice letting it go and having faith in each other,” Gardner said of feeding the shooters.

“That’s what we do at training, is we let the ball go, make mistakes but we’ve got to make sure that we perform on game day as well.

“I think having Abi in as well, she plays a bit of a different game, she changes up our ball speed, so it’s great that she’s in here while Tippy (Dwan) is out for a bit.”

Originally published as No sign of Gretel Bueta as another famous name appears for Firebirds in clash against Melbourne Vixens