Discussions will be held this week around the extent of Silver Ferns veteran Katrina Rore's involvement in the coming ANZ Premiership season with the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic.

The defender announced on Saturday that she and husband Joel were 'stoked and surprised” to be expecting a second child in 2022.

Rore last played in the ANZ Premiership for the Central Pulse in 2020 and was due to return to action with the Magic this year after giving birth to daughter LilyBud last May.

Magic coach Mary-Jane Araroa says the team is still in the 'early stages” of understanding what Rore's pregnancy would mean for them, ahead of their season opener against the Northern Mystics in Hamilton on Sunday.

'It's up to her really how far she wants to go into it with her pregnancy, so we are holding those discussions this week with her.”

Whatever role she ends up playing for the Magic, a potential return to the Silver Ferns ahead of the Commonwealth Games in England in July now appears to be off the table.

Rore last pulled on the black dress at the end of 2019, after playing a key role in the Silver Ferns' triumph at the Netball World Cup earlier this year.

She was set to push for a place in coach Dame Noeline Taurua's plans during the ANZ Premiership alongside team-mate Ameliaranne Ekenasio, who is returning to play after having her second child, daughter Luna, last November.

Araroa says Ekenasio had been 'doing really well” in pre-season, but was set to play a 'limited” role for the Magic in the early stages of the season.

'We're so pleased with what she brings to the team and obviously her leadership and also her knowledge throughout the court ... but she is on quite a strict return to play plan, so we are really mindful that we have to ensure that it's a longer journey for her.”

The Magic will be without promising young shooter Khiarna Williams until at least May, as she has been sidelined by a back injury.

She has been replaced in their squad in the meantime by Ivana Rowland.

Rore and Ekenasio were two of four Silver Ferns the Magic signed during the off-season, along with their Pulse team-mate Claire Kersten and Bailey Mes from the Mystics.

The Magic began last season with a win over the Mystics, but proceeded to lose their next 14 matches and finish last on the ladder.

- Stuff/Andrew Voerman