Karin Burger has her eyes firmly fixed on a spot in the Silver Ferns for next year's Netball World Cup.
The 29-year-old has been stuck on the sidelines since June with a foot fracture but is back in the Ferns' squad for the upcoming Quad Series in Cape Town.
Burger hopes to make an immediate impact on her return to ensure she gets her shot at the sport's global showpiece.
This summer will be more intense than ever before for Burger, as she tries to make up for the lost time.
"It's been an interesting six months and a new experience for me," she told Newshub. "But I've come out and I'm raring to go."
In June, the 29-year-old needed surgery on her foot after the fracture playing in the ANZ Premiership.
"I didn't think it would be to that extent," she said of the injury. "I thought I might be out for a couple of weeks.
"When they told me that was me for about six months, I was pretty gutted."
That meant Burger missed the Commonwealth Games and was forced to watch her side win bronze from home as she focused on her rehab.
"It was more [of] a mental challenge than a physical challenge. For me, just not being able to play netball, and it being my first experience being out for so long."
But the hard work has paid off. Burger's back in the Ferns' picture, named in Dame Noeline Taurua's squad for the upcoming Quad series.
Although the South African-born defender has something bigger in mind, with the country of her birth hosting next year's big dance.
"Obviously, wearing the black dress and it being the World Cup - and it also being in South Africa - that's a massive goal for me," she said.
Performing at the Quad Series on her return to the international arena will be crucial to ensuring that goal becomes a reality.
