Super Netball's reigning premiers took the biggest hit possible to their title defence over the weekend, after the spearhead of their attack, Trinidad and Tobago shooter Sam Wallace, went down with a knee injury in their opening match against the Giants.
Scans have since confirmed Wallace has been ruled out for the season with an ACL injury, leaving Swifts head coach Briony Akle with a huge dilemma to solve just one week into the season.
Since joining the Swifts in 2017, Wallace's consistency has seen her win their club MVP season award three times (2018, 2019 and 2021).
The shooter was also instrumental in their recent championship-winning seasons, as the 2019 Grand Final MVP (40 goals at 91 per cent accuracy) and as one of the best on court in the 2021 Grand Final too (51 goals at 90 per cent accuracy).
Beyond these important matches, Wallace is one of the big personalities who makes up the heart and soul of the Swifts team, and her tenacious drive and incredible accuracy helped to pull them through some of their toughest matches on the road last year.
Personally, Wallace has been through a lot outside of netball since moving to Australia, after losing her father and aunt back home in Trinidad and Tobago during the Swifts' successful years.
It was therefore no surprise to see sadness sweep across the netball community after one of the competition's most-loved shooters went down on Saturday night.
And how much does this loss weigh on the team, who really are like one, big, close-knit family, living in each other's pockets?
With Wallace scratched, they face an uphill battle, but sources within the camp say they remain focused on retaining their title.
A lot now falls on the shoulders of their most-experienced shooter, English import Helen Housby, who will need to be able to carry the side and take charge in difficult moments up the front end.
Spare a thought for their coach as well, who will now be navigating her way through a third straight COVID-affected season and — like every other coach — will need a range of backup plans each week, with players likely to be ruled out here, there and everywhere as the rounds go on.
Akle will need to name Wallace's replacement for round two by Thursday, when the teams are expected to submit their playing list to the Super Netball league.
Whether that player will be a holding or permanent option will become clear in the weeks that follow, with training partners likely to be relied on in the first instance.
The options are truly endless when it comes to attracting overseas imports but, here, we've rounded up a list of the most likely Australian replacement players.
Likely candidates to take on Wallace's job
Caitlin Bassett
Could the Swifts tempt our previous Australian captain out of retirement?
It feels largely ironic that Bassett hung up her netball dress just a month ago because she couldn't find a Super Netball contract, and now not one, but two have opened up for a goal shooter in the past few weeks.
It's well known that Bassett's knees aren't what they used to be, after she underwent surgery in the off-season to try to prolong her professional netball career.
Still, the Swifts only need a tall, strong target under the post, and as long as they're happy for her to play that holding role, the internationally capped centurion would bring a wealth of experience.
Kim Borger
Could the Swifts lure an Australian player back from overseas?
Borger is currently in the middle of her fourth season in the UK Superleague with Team Bath, after leading the team to the Grand Final in 2021 and topping the competition's shooting stats, with 93 per cent accuracy.
Although Team Bath are currently outside the top four, Borger still makes a great option considering she's already had plenty of court time at a high level.
She is also a former Australian U21 representative and has played for the Swifts before, during the trans-Tasman championship era.
Sacha McDonald
Another option in the UK Superleague department, is to bring Sacha McDonald back from the London Pulse.
A previous Melbourne Vixens training partner, McDonald has been playing under a coaching group that features former Diamonds head coach Lisa Alexander, and has currently shot 101 goals at 90 per cent accuracy through the 10 rounds.
The Pulse are sitting in the top three on the UK Superleague ladder and have mostly been using Sacha McDonald in a goal attack role.
But if the Swifts consider shifting Housby and Singleton into shooter, McDonald could make a fine addition with more experience under her belt.
Laura Towell
Will Akle stick with her Swifts training partners?
Towell made her debut for the Swifts in last month's Team Girls Cup tournament as Wallace sat on the sidelines trying to get an injury on her other knee right for the Super Netball season. During that time Towell, played 136 minutes and shot 48 goals at 83 per cent.
The Swifts may have finished in last place, but Towell showed promise alongside Kelly Singleton, who has already been awarded a senior contract this year in the place of Sophie Garbin.
If Akle is looking to the future and believes Towell is indeed that for the Swifts, then why not get her used to the big stage now?
There is also 18-year-old training partner and NSW state representative Sophie Fawns to consider. The young shooter is another player who is part of the extended squad and was named in the game-day 10 on the weekend.
Ali Miller
Will Akle look to the Swifts Academy for answers?
Ali Miller is currently involved with the club in that capacity and previously featured as a training partner with the team.
Miller made a comeback to the NSW Premier League court in 2021 after the birth of her son and, although the competition wasn't able to crown a winner, with the season abandoned due to COVID related issues, her team — the Eastwood Ryde Hawks — had made it to the grand final for the three consecutive years prior.
One of these included a title win in 2019, with the likes of Miller, Kiera Austin and Sophie Dwyer in the shooting circle.
Among these, who have now made names for themselves in Super Netball, Miller was the most-dominant shooter on court, converting 34 goals at 94 per cent accuracy.
In terms of playing style, Miller has similar attributes to Wallace, with impeccable accuracy, much-needed height and a strong ability to hold her own under the post.
Nyah Allen
Allen started her Super Netball journey as a training partner with the Adelaide Thunderbirds, before moving to the Collingwood Magpies in 2019.
A year later, she made her debut as part of the extended squads allowed for the Queensland-hubbed season, where she won fans for her long-range accuracy and instinct to turn and shoot.
Many thought she may have earned herself a senior contract for 2021 but, alas, Allen has gone back to being a training partner, waiting in the wings for more-regular opportunity.
Her sister, Sienna, joined the Magpies as a training partner this year, too, which may make Sydney a harder sell for Akle.
Even so, Allen would be guaranteed more court time if she was to make the trip north and she may be able to fill Wallace's role with the super shot. Vixens training partner Ruby Barkmeyer is another option for similar reasons.
