Queensland Firebirds rally around heartbroken captain Laura Geitz Queensland Firebirds captain Laura Geitz is in mourning following the shock death of her father. Picture: Jono Searle Source: The Courier-Mail MOURNING captain Laura Geitz will be given all the time she needs as the netball community rallies around the Queensland Firebirds star after the shock loss of her father. Geitz is grieving with her family after her dad Ross died in hospital on Monday night following an accident at the family property at Allora, on the Darling Downs, on Friday. The Australian international flew home ahead of the team's trans-Tasman match in Christchurch on Saturday and is not expected to fill her goalkeeper bib against the Vixens in Melbourne on Sunday. It's a sad time. Everyone feels for her and her wonderful family," Firebirds coach Roselee Jencke said. That's (when she returns) up to Laura, she needs to be with her family. Geitz's parents Ross and Juanita barely missed a game since her Firebirds debut in 2008 and the tragedy has hit the team hard going into a season-defining series of games against heavyweight sides. Third-placed Queensland face the Melbourne Vixens twice in three weeks, either side of their clash with champions Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic at the Gold Coast Convention Centre on May 26. The Firebirds also have a tricky road trip to Perth on June 9. We're really trying to concentrate on the Vixens. All I'm asking is for everyone to do their job to the best ability they can," Jencke said. It's really important to keep things as normal as possible. Geitz's replacement last week against Tactix, Demelza McCloud, was one of the stars, contributing two intercepts and five deflections. The skipper's absence also gave Jencke the chance to hand a debut to defender Laura Clemesha and more court time to shooter Ameliaranne Wells. Wing attack Chelsea Pitman's chances of facing the Vixens are rising after she returned to the training court on Tuesday night. Pitman rolled her ankle against the league-leading Thunderbirds last month, missing the side's victories against West Coast Fever and Tactix. She is confident of playing against the Vixens but Jencke will wait for medical advice before making a decision on Pitman's availability. "She will have to pass a fitness test, but it's looking good," the coach said.