Tiana Metuarau is experiencing her second coming as a netballer at just 19 years of age.
She's been a game-changer for the ANZ Premiership-leading Central Pulse, who face the Southern Steel in Auckland on Friday.
But Metuarau has had to overcome some inner demons over the past 12 months, watching on as the Pulse broke the glass ceiling.
"I remember last year when I didn't get on [in the final], I was crying and all my team saw it," Metuarau told Newshub.
The teenager went from a regular starter in 2017 and 2018 to being sparingly used off the bench.
"I think I was in denial for quite a while because I didn't want to accept that I hadn't done the work at the time"
The teenage shooter was struggling for court time behind Silver Ferns goal attack Ameliaranne Ekenasio.
"I didn't want to hear the hard truth. And the truth was I wasn't fit enough at the time and again I was really sad."
But she's got a new lease on life in 2020, shining off the bench in a new role at wing attack and in her more accustomed goal attack bib.
"I've worked a lot harder this year and I'm a lot happier and I don't mind being on the bench."
But for how long is the question - ANZ Premiership rivals will be circling when Metuarau comes off contract at the end of the season.
Yvette McCausland-Durie - focus on retention
"The hope is that everyone wants to return, that's the ultimate goal, but also, as you've mentioned, respect the fact that actually sometimes they need to go to get more game time," Pulse coach Yvette McCausland-Durie tells Newshub.
That's something Metuarau herself is relaxed about as she continues to seize every opportunity she gets in 2020.
