Amy Wormald, 27, went down with an ankle injury in the second quarter of the Warrnambool Mermaids 12-goal loss to the McKinnon Cougars in round three of the Big V Basketball competition on Saturday night. 

Blues coach Raewyn Poumako said Wormald is no guarantee to play and that losing the star shooter would have a significant impact on her side's chances against the Bombers.

"It would be massive given how creative and dynamic she is," Poumako said.

"But I suppose with every key position player missing...it just reduces your flexibility and ability to make changes, so that would be the biggest problem."

Meanwhile Danielle Keilar, also 27, has been all but ruled out for round one.

Keilar, who last played for the Blues in 2012, made inroads to a Hampden league return after years of back problems, before recently suffering another setback. 

The Blues will also be without versatile teenager Matilda Fitzgerald, who is nursing a hand injury. 

But Poumako said young gun Jessica Thwaites and returning player Taylah Antonio were more than ready to spearhead Warrnambool's attack if necessary.

"I've got full faith in them to step up," she said.

"Cobden will be a huge task though - they don't have any obvious weaknesses.

"So we can't afford to make mistakes."

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