Tasmanian Magpies could be without their co-captains for the side's opening game of their Australian Netball League title defence.
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Kelsie Rainbow and Mel Bragg are set to play a second consecutive match for Super Netball affiliate Collingwood on Saturday night.
The final decision won't be made until Thursday night.
Hobart-based assistant Claire Dennis suggested the pair could play in the second clash against Queensland Fusion on Sunday should the pair not get off the bench the night before in Brisbane against the Firebirds.
But Dennis, a former midcourter of the same Cavaliers club, was proud of Winnealah's Rainbow.
"To see not only Kelsie, but Mel and Gabby [Sinclair] play last week for Collingwood was amazing," she said.
"Obviously, with Code Lange on the bench for the Thunderbirds, they're all proteges out of last year's team."
The Tasmanians won the ANL grand final 54-53 over Canberra Giants that included Rainbow being named the player-of-the-finals series.
Dennis admitted the rise of their core team was vindication for the club program and the ANL as a concept.
"I think it was most pleasing to see all this occur in round 1," she said. "It probably gives a lot of ANL players a lot of hope it can be achieved if you put in the work."
The hole left in the side has cleared the way for former Cavs teammate Shelby Miller take the captaincy for the weekend's double-header.
"It's very exciting for Shelby and a great opportunity for her to prove her group leadership skills," she said.
Dennis, who is the first Tasmanian to coach a state team to a national netball title, said last year's success is well and truly in the past.
"The defending champions title has come and gone. This year presents new opportunities for us. We're all about developing the girls and ur group to reach Super Netball," she said.
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Andrew Mathieson
The day I realised I wasn't good enough to play for St Kilda or be the No.1 spinner for Australia was when I realised journalism was the closest I could come to follow my passion for sport. And it's not just about the scores for me. It's the back story behind the game.
The day I realised I wasn't good enough to play for St Kilda or be the No.1 spinner for Australia was when I realised journalism was the closest I could come to follow my passion for sport. And it's not just about the scores for me. It's the back story behind the game.
