Wehrung is still recovering after having her appendix removed early last week.

“I have lost my appetite and have been very tired, but I am starting to come good now,” Wehrung said. 

Ballarat launches the SEABL season with a blockbuster Miners and Rush doubleheader against arch-rival Bendigo at the Minerdome.

The GMHBA Miners and Harvey Norman Rush then back-up against Geelong Supercats at Geelong on Saturday night – a fixture Wehrung will also have to sit out.

Rush head coach Peter Cunningham is hoping Wehrung will be right to resume as part of his starting five against Kilsyth in week three of the season on Sunday, April 26. “We’ll just have to wait and see what her surgeon says,” he said.

Wehrung is confident Rush can make a strong start to their campaign.

“I think the girls will be right. They’ll all step up and work as a team,” she said.

Cunningham believes that Bronte Clark can step up into a starting five position and play an important role in the absence of Wehrung.

Meanwhile, first-season Miners head coach Eric Hayes is pleased with the build-up to the clash with the Bendigo Braves.

“We did some really good things (on Tuesday night),” he said.

Hayes expects Sean Massey (foot fracture) to be the only player missing.

The Bendigo game will mark the much-anticipated return from injury of Kris Blicavs (back) and import Roy Booker (Achilles tendon).

Blicavs missed all last season, while Booker was sidelined after just 15 games.

Rush tips off at 6pm and the Miners at 8pm.