Aoife Colvill knew she could spend her third W-League season sitting in the stands and watching Canberra United play from afar.
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All she could do was work hard and train with confidence as their season took a nosedive, conceding 12 unanswered goals in three games.
And she caught coach Heather Garriock's attention.
Colvill has been named in United's 15-strong squad for their season-defining game against Melbourne Victory at Lakeside Stadium on Sunday.
It will be her first W-League appearance in more than a year, having come off the bench in United's round 13 loss to the Brisbane Roar last season.
The 19-year-old mainly plays at striker but has been called in to replace midfielder and co-captain Karly Roestbakken, who is on international duty.
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"I'm prepared to play anywhere," Colvill said.
"I've been training well, working hard and looking confident. I think that's what Heather looks for in players - if you're confident in what you do, you play well and score goals. I think that's what I've been doing at training.
"I kind of knew coming into this season that I wasn't going to be a regular player, Heather made that clear. She was like 'keep working hard and you'll get your time'.
"It's been a while so I'm feeling pretty excited. I'm a little bit nervous [as well] but I guess that will transfer into energy."
Canberra have slumped to sixth on the ladder and must beat Victory for a chance to end their three-year finals drought.
Both clubs are chasing down fourth-placed Brisbane, who are on 14 points and have a bye this week.
The Melbourne outfit have won their last three matches and also sit on 14 points, meaning a victory would knock Canberra, who have ten points, out of finals contention.
United still maintain some control over their destiny given Victory will be without star defender Jenna McCormick and have only lost one game on the road so far this season.
"We're never going to throw the towel in, we're going to give Melbourne Victory a really good run for their money and I think it's going to be a top match because the girls are up for it," Garriock said.
"We will revert back to our values; culture is a big value of ours as well as character and never giving up.
"It's going to be a tough game, especially away, but our away record has been really good this season."
Colvill admitted she was looking forward to returning to the venue where she made her W-League debut and backed the sixth-placed United to still make finals.
"It's do or die and will probably be our grand final of the season so far," Colvill said.
"If we go out and play with freedom and confidence then I think we'll be fine.
"We've had lots of chats about belief and turning that around for the rest of the season. Right now, we don't have much to lose, so I think that's our mentality.
"We're going into the final rounds with the belief we can win and make finals."
W-LEAGUE Round 11
Sunday: Melbourne Victory v Canberra United at Lakeside Stadium, 4pm
Canberra United team list: 1.Annalee Grove (gk), 2. Laura Hughes, 3.Kaleigh Kurtz, 4. Jessie Rasschaert, 5.Nikola Orgill (c), 6. Emma Stanbury, 7.Simone Charley, 8.Olivia Price, 10.Camila Pereira, 11.Elise Thorsnes, 15. Ashlie Crofts,17. Patricia Charalambous, 19.Leena Khamis, 20.Shamiran Khamis (gk), 21.Rebekah Horsey, 23. Lauren Keir, 24. Aoife Colvill *two to be omitted*
