Surgeon Ethan Pierce pushes the warm hearted and gorgeous Maia Jeffries to the limits of her patience in the penultimate week of Shortland Street.

In recent episodes, we have seen Ethan's campaign by stealth to undermine Maia unfold. Initially his goal appeared to be to unseat Maia as Charge Nurse at Shortland Street hospital. But now his game playing is getting very personal.

Seizing upon Maia's sexual orientation as a chance to spread rumours about her, Ethan has managed to convince hospital CEO Callum McKay (Peter Mochrie) that Maia has been playing favourites amongst the staff.

Hoping that the charge of sexual harassment he has conjured up will stick, Ethan has now set his sights on destroying the bond Maia has with her best friend Alice Piper - who also happens to be Ethan's girlfriend.

In upcoming episodes, Ethan poses as Alice in an online conversation with Maia. What starts as a simple discussion regarding a patient's status quickly moves into dangerous territory, as an unsuspecting Maia is drawn into a less than professional exchange about her love life and preferences.

"Poor Maia is completely unaware that Ethan is drawing her into his web," states Anna. "She's in one part of the hospital and Alice (or so she thinks) is in another. It's only natural she would share a few confidences with her bestie."

What Maia doesn't know is that Ethan prints out the conversation and swiftly delivers it to Callum. Off the back of the sexual harassment charges, Callum has no choice but to give Maia a written warning.

"Naturally, Maia is shocked and dismayed," Anna says. "After all, she's had a perfect track record at the hospital until this point and to have her reputation go from hero to zero is unthinkable."

But there's worse to come. News of her mother Yvonne's (Alison Quigan) medical condition is about to cause heartbreak for the Jeffries family and the spotlight of blame will be trained firmly on Ethan.

"She's just been hauled in front of Callum for a second time, so when Maia runs into Ethan, the misery and hatred that's been building up in her just explodes. Maia goes for the jugular, wrestling Ethan to the ground.

"It's a good old fashioned brawl, with a conveniently gathered audience! Unfortunately, she doesn't realise until too late that she's played straight into his hands. It could be that she's just delivered the final blow to her own career."