Unsuspected bone bruising has turned a sprain from an anticipated one-week recovery to at least six weeks.

The untimely setback has come just prior to Australian selection for next month’s four-nation tournament.

Thirty-two days since her coach Derrick Washington predicted Mansfield would return next start, the star guard admitted pressure is building to get game time sooner rather than later.

“I hope so – I kind of need to be ready,” Mansfield said.

“I probably may have to push it a bit more than we need to be otherwise.”

Mansfield first missed the SEABL club’s opening five games at the tail-end of her European campaign.

But since going down against Sydney Uni Flames, the 28-year-old has been sidelined for another four games which will turn into six ahead of the Tornadoes’ road double at the weekend.

Mansfield is set to skip the final three fixtures prior to finals, leaving only one home clash against Tayla Roberts’ Dandenong to play.

“As far as the Tornadoes go, I want to be on the court as soon as I can,” she said.

“I think it will help me with [Opals] preparation, as well being able to play games.”

Club physiotherapist Scott Beetson cleared Mansfield to begin jogging and she is set to resume training this week.

Mansfield had feared the injury was season-ending.

That led the club to send for an MRI scan that did not reveal much better news.

“What went through my head initially was that I have done this ankle before and I had surgery on it,” she said.

“I was worried it was that same injury again. It turned out it wasn’t – just a different injury, but the same ankle.”

Facing up to hosts China, Croatia and Argentina is preparation to make a World Cup squad.

“That’ll be huge,” she said.

“It’s definitely been one of my goals for a while now.

“It’s something I am going to try and do. It’s going to be tough now – there’s a lot of great players out there, but it’s what I am still aiming for.”