There's not much going right for the Warrnambool Mermaids in 2019.
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The Louise Brown-coached side clocked up its tenth-straight loss on Saturday against McKinnon Cougars, just 272 days after it won the Big V women's championship title.
And after this week's bye the Mermaids take on the league's top side, the Werribee Devils, who have won nine games on the trot.
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But Brown said she hoped to re-inject some experience into Warrnambool, with captain Amy Wormald expected to return for the June 15 clash. Wormald missed the Cougars' game as her netball side, the Warrnambool Blues, played in Hamilton.
And while the 28-year-old has carried a plantar fascia injury for the last month, Brown said Wormald's ankle wouldn't her hold back.
"The only way to fix (plantar fasciitis) is rest," Brown said. "I'm not really sure how long she'll need, but we've had the chat and I've left the decision up to her.
"But we won't be playing finals so I don't want to risk making her foot worse."
Jae Leddin (calf strain), who hasn't played since the Mermaids' round nine loss to Whittlesea Pacers, was also expected to return for the game against the Devils.
Brown said she gave her players the week off training to rest and reset before they faced the league's strongest side.
Werribee has averaged 79.09 points for and 64.64 against this season, while Warrnambool has averaged 64.5 points for and 86.2 against.
"We'll just try our best," Brown said.
"I'll watch film of them over the next week to figure out their strengths and plan how to limit them."
In the absence of Wormald and Leddin, Abbey Sutherland led Warrnambool against McKinnon with 12 points, eight rebounds and three assists.
The 19-year-old, set to move to America in early July to play for Houston Baptist University, clocked more than 35 minutes on court and enjoyed an engrossing battle with the Cougars' Texan import Angela Beadle.
"It was a tough task for Abbey defensively but she was very steady for us," Brown said.
"She took her shots, was aggressive, and showed good leadership, which has been something she's been working on."
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