Australian Diamonds coach Lisa Alexander has left the door open for Laura Geitz to force her way into the Commonwealth Games squad with the netball legend set for an inspirational return.
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The former Australian captain will return for Queensland after missing the Firebirds' inaugural Super Netball campaign to have her first baby in February.
Alexander won't rule out taking Geitz to the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast next year in a massive boost for the Diamonds' gold medal hopes.
Alexander says Geitz's decision to return is an inspirational one for her family and newborn son Barney.
"She had lots of people telling her 'no, don't do it, you've already done everything.' But as she said, it's just a great challenge and she doesn't feel like she's done yet," Alexander said.
"She's not making any promises about coming back. She's obviously going to play for the Firebirds but nothing is set in concrete with the Diamonds because she has to earn her place back with us.
"We're just thrilled that she's back in that environment and she's such a great leader and such a humble person. I just can't wait to see her back out on court."
Diamonds shooter Caitlin Thwaites says the return of "a legend" would be huge for netball across Australia even if Geitz doesn't crack the Commonwealth Games squad.
But Geitz is intent on becoming the player she used to be with absolutely no fear her role as the sport's golden girl could be in danger.
Thwaites believes Geitz making a return to elite netball so soon fills the playing group with a lot of confidence that suggests anything is possible.
"The support that we've had this year from some of the girls who have returned after having kids has been pretty incredibly," Thwaites said.
"For them to be really leading the way, for us to be able to see that it's possible and the support is there for them to be able to get back and actually play that top notch level netball, it's been awesome to see.
"It's great that Geitzy is going to turn around and do that too."
Alexander and Thwaites were in Canberra on Friday to nurture the next generation of Indigenous netball stars at a high performance camp at the AIS.
The pair mentored 21 young Indigenous players and Alexander hopes it creates a pathway that lands a host of them in the Super Netball competition.
The Diamonds coach renewed calls for an expanded Super Netball league and would "love" to see a team based in Canberra.
"One day I hope we've got at least two more teams in our competition," Alexander said.
"We've got eight at the moment and I'd like every state and territory represented, even if it ends up being 11 sides. We'd love ACT, NT and Tasmania because they're a big part of our netball family.
"In order for us to expand our competition, we've got to make sure we've got talent and we have. This is a part of that, the development of that talent."
