BENDIGO Spirit star Kelly Wilson is hoping an ankle and Achilles injury might be a blessing in disguise.
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Wilson, who re-signed with the Spirit for two years on Tuesday, hasn't played with SEABL club Knox for a month and is unsure when she will return to training.
After years of playing basketball 12 months of the year, 30-year-old Wilson said the forced break might do her the world of good leading into the WNBL season.
"I've chipped a bone at the back of my ankle and my Achilles is having some trouble,'' Wilson said.
"I'm not sure when I'll be back at the moment. Every time I try to do something it gets sore.
"So my plan at the moment is to stay off it completely.
"I've never really had this kind of break before. The past few years in SEABL I've been lucky enough to make it right to the end of the finals, so I've only had a week in between SEABL and WNBL seasons.
"I'm not the best patient, but I'm hoping this break will do me good.
"It's giving my body a good rest and making me really look forward to start training with the Spirit."
Wilson was an integral member of the Spirit's successful WNBL title defence last season.
The Opals squad member averaged 9.7 points and four assists per game.
Fellow Opal Belinda Snell was the Spirit's big off-season signing and Wilson can't wait to see her in Bendigo colours.
"Other clubs have recruited strongly, but adding someone like Snelly is so exciting for the group.
"For me personally, I used to play with Snelly when I finished at the AIS and she's a great player and a great person.
"I'm really looking forward to playing alongside her."
Spirit coach Bernie Harrower said he was excited to have Wilson’s play making ability back with the team for another two years.
“Kelly is routinely one of our hardest working and fittest players year after year,” Harrower said.
“We depend on her a lot at the guard position and as one of the most experienced backcourt players in the competition, she’s able to use her knowledge and skill to attack the defence.
“She has the ability to both run the point for us and play off the ball and be a threat on the perimeter which makes her a dangerous player for opposing teams to deal with.”