Glynn has been a prolific scorer - only national skipper Anita Punt with 82 goals has scored more for New Zealand than Glynn with 77 - and she has acknowledged the road back to full fitness has not been easy.
"It is almost a year since I last played hockey competitively. I still get pain in my back but it's decreasing over time," she said.
Auckland coach Jude Menezes is liking what he's seen from her in the leadup to the national league.
"She's been training really well, looking good on the ball and we all know she can score goals," Menezes said.
"She just wants to take it one game at a time, Rio is the ultimate prize and she's working her way towards that. She'll be an asset."
Auckland also have long-serving experienced attacker Krystal Forgesson back, after she retired at the end of last season.
As well, Auckland striker Charlotte Harrison and Central's Cathryn Pollock - two other members of the London Olympic team, who finished fourth - have indicated interest in pushing for Rio spots,
The women's national team, ranked fourth in the world, have the Oceania Cup clash with Australia coming up in Stratford in October, the world league final in Rosario, Argentina in December, and Rio.
The Black Sticks men have to beat Australia at the Oceania Cup to qualify for Rio.
Auckland again look strong in both teams, loaded with internationals, and the men have a new coach in former international Lloyd Stevenson.
Midlands, Central and Canterbury should be competitive in the women's competition, while Northland, who will host the last five rounds and the finals, were beaten finalists last year and in Stacey Michelsen, Ella Gunson and Brooke Neal should have a quality leadership group.
The other men's teams have a smattering of internationals but none match Auckland's depth. Capital, Canterbury and North Harbour shape as their closest challengers.
Auckland have won the last three Challenge Shields, and shared the 2011 title with Central. The women's K Cup has been won by five different teams in the past six years.
New season
• The national league starts today with a full round in four venues. The same applies to the second round next weekend before all teams assemble for the last five rounds, plus semis and finals, in Whangarei.
• The finals are on September 20.
• Auckland are defending champions in both competitions.
• The women's games today are all at noon - North Harbour hosting Northland, Midlands playing Auckland at Pukekohe, Central meeting Capital at Palmerston North and Canterbury playing Southern in Christchurch. The men's draw and game locations are the same, but the matches start at 2pm.
