Kristiana Manu'a back in form for Giants and the Pacific Islands

Kristiana Manu'a has overcome a serious foot injury which ended her dream of playing for the Giants as they went all the way to the Super Netball Grand Final last season. But now she's back and aiming to prove she's ready to help the Giants this season.

Kristiana Manu'a Source: John Baldock

She was born in Wellington but when she was just a few months old her parents migrated to Australia, and that's why 22-year-old Kristiana Manu'a chose to play for the country she grew up in.

"Its only right to play for the country that helped my family and helped me to succeed," she told SBS News.

Despite a nightmare 2017 that saw her sidelined all season with a torn Achilles, she's done the rehabilitation and is now ready to show why she was chosen to play for Australia in the 2016 Quad series.

"Hopefully I'll be back in there," she said.

Kristiana Manu'a [left] playing for the Magic v Swifts Source: Getty Images AsiaPac

But before that can happen she has to get back into the Giants side.

The season won't start until late April because of the Commonwealth Games and before then, Manu'a will be busy helping to promote the 2018 Oceania Netball Cup as a tournament ambassador.

It runs in mid-March and being of Samoan heritage she's proud to be involved.

"I'm super passionate about being a Pacific Islander and its a chance to give back to my roots,"  she explains.

She's at the start of her career,  but if her resolve to come back from serious injury is any sign, Manu'a looks set for a successful netball future both as a player and an ambassador for her Pacific Island background.