But if it does, the shooter will be ready to jump on and have another significant impact, as she did in the round two win over Adelaide (where she hit 29 shots from 29 attempts) and last week's triumph over Queensland (27/31).

Brice has become Fitzgerald's not-so-secret weapon, spending large periods of the Super Netball season biding her time on the bench, waiting for her opportunity to own the attacking circle.

She played most games last season from the pine, but started all three of the Giants' finals games, including the decider against Sunshine Coast.

And Fitzgerald is using the 23-year-old from Sydney's west in similar fashion this season.

"The way Jules coaches the game, it's very tactical as well and if we're going to be finals contenders, she doesn't want to show all the teams too much too early," Brice said.

"We're only going into round five this weekend so we still want to try and work on combinations and settle combinations out on court, but at this stage we're still trying to get as many points and as many wins as we can.

"I started all the finals series games [last year], and there were a couple throughout the season that I started. Going into the semi-final against Collingwood I hadn't played against Collingwood at all during the regular season, so it was something they hadn't seen."

It's a balancing act for Fitzgerald, picking up as many wins as possible during the season without revealing all your big cards.

She has countless configurations to work with all over the court.

Her starting shooters this year have been England superstar Jo Harten and Diamond Susan Pettitt, but the latter is just as capable of moving into the midcourt should Fitzgerald want to play those two and Brice at the same time.

Fitzgerald also has plenty of options at the back with the fit-again Kristiana Manu'a putting pressure on regular starting defenders Sam Poolman and Bec Bulley.

"With the way that our team is at the moment, we can play so many different combinations – at this stage it's pretty much who matches up better on different teams," Brice said.

"If I get the start then I'll go out there and start the game well and know that if I get taken off that the girls are going to do an equally good job as me."

Brice wasn't used at all in the round one win over defending premiers Sunshine Coast, or the narrow loss to cross-town rivals the Swifts two weeks later.

But even when she doesn't make it on court, she still contributes.

"It's just the same as being out on court, you've got to stay in the play and from the bench you've got to keep watching what the defenders have been doing, what's been working for the team out there, what hasn't worked," Brice said.

"That way, if you need to go on, you're ready to play, you feel like you've played half the game or you've played that quarter with the girls as well.

"Us bench players give the girls on court feedback as well."

While Fitzgerald is set to keep opposition teams guessing all season, it was the Vixens who pulled off the biggest shock during the week signing former Diamond Renae Ingles for the rest of the season.

"Renae being a strong wing defence, that's their missing link at the moment when we look at video," Brice said.

"They've got a couple of different girls there learning the position, but Renae gives them that touch that they need in the back line."