White Ferns batter Suzie Bates is hoping to mark her first hometown appearance with victory, as New Zealand looks to register a first win of this year's Women's Cricket World Cup.
Bates, 34, has represented New Zealand a staggering 262 times across both one day international and Twenty20 cricket - but is yet to play a single game on her home ground of Dunedin's University Oval.
The New Zealand opener came agonisingly close to finally being able to take the field in front of her friends and family at the start of 2020 in a T20 against South Africa - only for rain to spoil the occasion.
But despite scattered showers forecast overhead, Bates will hopefully finally step out on her home ground on Monday, when the White Ferns face Bangladesh at Dunedin.
"It'll be really special," Bates says. "The fact I've never played here for the White Ferns makes it that much more special.
"In a home World Cup, to be able to have some of my family and friends up on the bank, I talked about it with Katey Martin this morning.
"Steve Martin and Wendy Martin have been like second cricket parents to me. They sit on the same spot [watching], whether we're playing age group cricket, whether we're playing for the [Otago] Sparks, and now for New Zealand.
"We'll just have that real comfort of knowing what this ground's about, looking up and seeing the people that've been there since we under-15s.
"It's going to be a pretty cool moment to sing the national anthem, and be at your home ground. Considering it's the first time tomorrow, it's going to be a pretty cool day."
But the White Ferns enter their second match of the World Cup's group stage after falling to a surprise defeat in their tournament opener - going down to the West Indies by three runs at Mt Maunganui on Friday.
For Bates and the team though, the quick turnaround between games is a blessing, giving the White Ferns little opportunity to dwell on what's already been as they concentrate on what's to come.
"I think it does help, obviously that close loss was a little bit heartbreaking for everyone, getting so close and being disappointed at the end.
"But then we were on a plane to Dunedin. That's going to be the nature of this tournament for us the whole way through - we play and then the next day we're on to a new venue.
"I think it works in our favour. We're now in Dunedin, [against] a different opposition and obviously we talked about that game and some of the [lessons] we can take from it, but we've just got to move on and take one game at a time.
"That [starts] tomorrow with Bangladesh."
Bates herself is hoping to fare better in New Zealand's second game, after an unlucky end to her evening on Friday.
In the early overs of New Zealand's run chase, a Sophie Devine straight drive was deflected back onto the stumps at the non-striker's end, seeing Bates run out for just three being short of her ground.
"I'm just hoping that little bit of bad luck means tomorrow I get all the luck," Bates jokes.
"[Coach] Bob Carter did say I was quite far out of my crease, but Sophie hits the ball quite hard straight. Maybe I can just sit back on my heels if I see her shaping that way.
"It is what it is, it happens in cricket. Obviously I was disappointed not to get more of a bat, but there's plenty more cricket to come.
"I just can't wait to get out there tomorrow."
Join Newshub for live updates of the White Ferns v Bangladesh from 11am Monday.
