Despite being named as a Black Fern for the last time, the excitement of her fourth Rugby World Cup hasn't grown old for Kendra Cocksedge.
As the most-capped Fern in history, Cocksedge, 34, will bring her storied career to an end at the conclusion of this season, hoping to bow out as a World Cup winner one more time.
Aside from her record 61 tests, the halfback has won the trophy twice before in 2010 and 2017, and can sign off as a triple champion, if New Zealand win again in November.
But despite the prospect of a fairytale finish, after already lifting the Farah Palmer Cup with Canterbury on Saturday, she insists she won't coast into retirement.
"For me, it's around enjoying the moment and living in the moment," Cocksedge said. "I don't want to get too far ahead of myself.
"I know I've announced my retirement and I've had two jobs to do. One's been done with winning the Farah Palmer Cup in the weekend. I've got one left.
"There's no way I've switched off and I'm ready to leave the game. We've got a big job ahead of us.
"I just try not to tell myself it's the last time getting named in a Black Ferns team, especially for a World Cup. Then the emotion will sink in.
"I've just got to push that aside and focus on the job we've got to do. I'll celebrate and reflect on it post-World Cup."
Not that the Black Ferns would take their upcoming campaign lightly. After a miserable 2021, where onfield struggles were matched by off-field disarray, the team have rebuilt under coach Wayne Smith.
This year, the Black Ferns are unbeaten through five tests, including the Pacific Four and Laurie O'Reilly Cup series against Australia.
With the launch of Super Rugby Aupiki, 2022 shapes as easily the biggest year for women's rugby in New Zealand.
As one of the most recognisable faces in the game, Cocksedge has been at the forefront of that, but rather than being weighed down by fatigue or expectation, she thinks the Black Ferns are on track to peak at the right time.
"It's been full-on, but that's what was needed," she added. "The first part of the year was challenging for myself as a leader and for the team.
"We've worked through that and we knew we had to push on really quickly, with a World Cup around the corner.
"Thinking now, it feels so long ago since that happened. We've had a lot of camps together, we've played a lot more tests than we've played before a World Cup.
"The team's coming together nicely. I know everyone's going to put their best foot forward, and fight to be the best player and be the best team."
Smith has named his squad of 32 to defend the World Cup, but as with any NZ rugby squad, there's just as much talk about who's missed out as who made it.
Former captain Les Elder, stalwarts Charmaine Smith and Chelsea Semple, and crosscode stars Tyla Nathan-Wong and Kelly Brazier were all overlooked, as Smith named a blend of youth, experience and quality converted from the Olympic champion Black Ferns Sevens side.
That added quality, combined with emerging talent, leaves Cocksedge confident this Black Ferns generation is one of the strongest ever assembled.
"It's a really good squad that's been named. It's probably the biggest competition we've had for positions for a long time.
"There's players that have missed out who are quality as well. I know there's still going to be a group on the outside training hard in case of sickness or injuries - you never know what's going to happen.
"The energy that's around this team, this squad and the youth, they're a young group. There's a lot of humility, a lot of humble girls in the team.
"For me, being an older one, my energy's coming from the younger ones coming through. They're learning, they're open-minded.
"I'm just excited to play this test against Japan in a week's time and then crack into the World Cup."
Catch the Rugby World Cup 2021 live on Spark Sport and free-to-air on Three, or join us for live updates of the Black Ferns campaign
