The Northern Mystics bid to sign former Fiji Netball coach/player Vilimaina Davu for the upcoming ANZ Championship season, has taken on greater urgency after it has emerged star defender Leane de Bruin is recovering from ankle surgery.

The Auckland franchise now faces the prospect of heading to next month's pre-season tournament in Sydney, where they'll play around eight games over two days, with only 10 players as they await a resolution over Davu appeal.

Mystics Coach Yvonne Willering believes the de Bruin setback has added further weight to their fight to include Davu in the line-up.

The Mystics had their initial application to sign Davu declined by Netball New Zealand and submitted their appeal last Wednesday. They are still awaiting a response from the league board to find out how and when the appeal will be heard.