Charmaine Smith will complete a remarkable return to the game when she runs out for the Black Ferns in Saturday's O'Reilly Cup test in Hamilton.
Smith hung up the boots in 2020 after a neck problem left her at risk of a serious spinal injury, before being given the "all-clear" to return last year.
After impressing for Chiefs Manawa during Super Rugby Aupiki, coach Allan Bunting has named the Northlander to start at lock against the Wallaroos, suggesting her so-called retirement had always seemed half-hearted.
"I don't think she was done," said Bunting. "She's been working really hard the last couple of years.
"She came back just before the World Cup and wasn’t quite ready after baby.
"I think, from that point, she certainly got a little bit of a sniff. She's been working away on her own really hard with her baby on the field, and to see her get to this point now is pretty emotional for her and quite fulfilling.
"She's really enhanced our group a lot with her experience and just the effort she puts into everything, so just excited about what this means for her this weekend."
This weekend's test will be Smith's first since 2019, adding to her 27 international caps which also include a World Cup win in 2017.
World Cup star Ruby Tui's been left out of the gameday squad, as she continues her return from a sevens sabbatical in the United States.
Tui hasn't feature for the Ferns since the final epic against England at Eden Park, where she helped New Zealand win their second straight Cup.
"Ruby is building really well," said Bunting.
"The ladies that are on the wing at the moment, they've been working really hard too right through [Farah Palmer Cup]
"They certainly deserve their spot there but Ruby is tracking really well."
The Black Ferns have never lost to their trans-Tasman neighbours, with the Laurie O'Reilly Cup already secured for a fourth-straight years since its inception courtesy of New Zealand's 50-0 romp in Brisbane in June.
"We went really well against them last time but I think they're going to have improved immensely from then
"Their feedback has been heard a bit and they've had a bit of time together. We're expecting a real challenge this weekend and it's a good chance for us to see how we are tracking.
"We've been working on a few things too and hopefully we've improved since then, and I'm pretty sure we have."
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