SHE has long been a driving force as centre half, a player who inspires those around her, but injury could keep Kelly Baker from helping Bathurst City to reverse its women's Premier League Hockey fortunes.
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Since joining the competition Bathurst City has been a mainstay as minor premiership contenders, but four rounds into season 2019 it is doing it tougher.
City is sitting in fifth with one win from four rounds and in the three games it has lost, the Bathurst side has failed to score.
While it is not yet panic stations for City, who are not actually playing bad hockey, trying to get reward for their efforts is difficult when missing a talent like Baker.
She missed City's most recent outing against St Pat's - a 2-0 defeat - after injuring her knee playing soccer.
"She's an absolute asset to the team and one of the best players in Premier League. Having her out is massive blow, she is so great for us in the centre," City coach Lisa Quinn said.
"We don't know how long she is out for yet.
"It's so swollen, there's damage to the meniscus but they can't tell how bad it is.
"Hopefully if it's just what they can see right now she might only be out for a couple of weeks, if it's worse than that it could be a big part of the season."
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With a return date for Baker, one of nine remaining players from the 2017 title winning squad, still unknown, Quinn will be looking for the rest of her side to lift.
It is something she knows they are capable of doing.
The coach was pleased with how the junior talents she used against St Pat's performed - something City can certainly build on - while more on-field talk and improved fitness levels will be something Quinn targets too.
"Hats off to our young kids, I thought they did really well against Pat's," Quinn said.
"Each player stepped up, they gave me their best and all of the young girls who got a lot of game time really did a job for me.
"Fitness plays a role, communication plays a role as we start to get tired in the second half, but that's how it rolls."
City's next assignment is against Ex-Services in Orange. A win could see it rise into fourth.
