Expect Hawke's Bay's Jordan Pearse to be handed some of the rookie duties during the world canoe polo championships which begin in Syracuse, Italy next month.
After all Pearse, 24, is the "baby" of the New Zealand senior women's team and is the only newcomer to the side which will be aiming to break it's recent run of three consecutive fourth placings. However, she doesn't lack experience.
The Karamu High School product has been playing the sport since her Year 6 days at Frimley School. Pearse was a member of the New Zealand under-21 women's team which won bronze at the 2012 world champs in Poland.
"This is my first year at senior women's level as I had to be pretty selective with my timing and wait till after my studies," Pearse said.
She recently completed a masters of psychology degree at Auckland University having completed bachelor's degrees in psychology and Maori.
A lack of familiarity won't be an issue for Pearse either.
She is one of three members of the Otaki-based Generation Y team which has won the last three national senior women's titles.
The eight-strong Kiwi team, one of 16 in the senior women's grade at the worlds, is coached by Generation Y mentor Peter Housiaux.
"We're basically playing with mates. Like some of the other teams we're targeting gold but you can't think about the outcome. If you focus on the process and it all works out you could end up with gold," Pearse said.
Five of the Kiwis played at the last world championships and the other two players have played at world championship level previously.
"That experience is just one of the reasons I'm confident about our chances. The trust in each other is awesome and we're gelling as a team," sweeper Pearse said.
The team has had three training camps and also played in the national B grade league to trial their tactics. Prior to them there were four with the larger training squad.
Before the August 29-September 10 worlds the Kiwis will play in two build-up tournaments. In Syracuse, teams will be divided into four pools of four and the top two teams from each will qualify for the business end of the tournament.
Because of their fourth seeding the Kiwis will avoid hot favourites and two-time world champions Germany in pool play.
"We're really developing as a team. We've all made huge sacrifices, everyone is there to win and we're all there for the same cause," Pearse said.
A former national titleholder in kayaking and surf lifesaving, Pearse, has only had time for canoe polo in recent years.
With plenty of natural talent and an ideal work ethic there was a time when she was considered to have as much potential in kayaking as former schoolmate and Rio Olympics-bound paddler Aimee Fisher.
"Education had to come first. I did kayaking to get fit for canoe polo and surf lifesaving was a family thing," she recalled.
Pearse will make a decision after the world championships on whether or not she will continue in the sport.
Pearse is grateful for the numerous organisations which have supported her fundraising campaign. Prominent among them were Ngatai Kahungunu Iwi, Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga, Ngatarawa Wines and Jarks Cafe.
With her parents, successful kayaking coach Pip Pearse and Surf Lifeguarding Hawke's Bay's 2009 Lifeguard of the Year Harold Pearse, having been wonderful contributors to the community over the years it was always going to be tough for people to say now when it was their turn to ask for assistance.
Should Pearse return home with a medal round her neck, and the chances are high, it will be a case of money well spent.