Leana de Bruin will be hoping Mount Maunganui will be a happier hunting ground this week as she prepares to join a select group of players to reach 100 ANZ Championship games.

Running out at ASB Arena, Mount Maunganui on Sunday the 37-year-old will join close friends and Silver Ferns Laura Langman, Irene van Dyk, and Casey Kopua in the elite group – in an ANZ Championship career spanning back to its origins in 2008.

Magic defence Leana de Bruin at full stretch against the NSW Swifts at ASB Stadium, Mount Maunganui. Photo: Bruce Barnard

During her stellar career to date the 1.90m Silver Fern has not only collected an ANZ Championship title, but a string of accolades including; 2012 Grand Final Player of the Match, 2011 joint MVP and 2011 All-Star Team member.

Magic coach Julie Fitzgerald is one who certainly knows the significance of the milestone and value the classy defender brings to her side.

'I think in this level of competition, to have played 100 games and to have been able to sustain your level of performance for the length of time required to reach that milestone, is a tremendous achievement.”

'I'm particularly delighted for Leana because she's such a key part of the Magic and someone we couldn't be without, especially given the amount of injuries we have to our experienced players at present.”

De Bruin has taken over the captaincy role for the start of the 2105 ANZ Championship season with Kopua out for the majority of the season as she continues to recover from major knee surgery.

And she will be hoping the gloss won't be taken from Sunday's achievement as the Magic attempt to bounce back from last week's loss coming up against the Melbourne Vixens.

The Magic suffered their first loss of the season with a 48-43 defeat to the New South Wales Swifts following a hard fought 45-44 win over the Adelaide Thunderbirds in game one of the championship season.

The Vixens sit undefeated at the top of the Australian pool while Magic are in second in the New Zealand conference behind the Southern Steel sue to an inferior goal differential.

The Magic play the Vixens at ASB Arena this Sunday at 7.10pm.