Finding the energy and motivation to push for a Silver Ferns recall has been a difficult exercise for Cathrine Latu.
But the 28 year-old shooter says she is "not one to back away from a fight", and will be putting it all on the line at next week's Ferns trialsfor a spot in the Constellation Cup line-up ahead of the four-test series against Australia.
Latu was one of several high profile omissions from the Ferns' World Cup line-up earlier this year - a blow she said took several months to come to terms with.
"It was a really tough pill to swallow in the beginning and it was really hard to find the motivation and the heart that I once had for the game, because it was a decision that was really hard for me. So to make some choices around staying here and trying to get back into the black dress again has been quite tough but ultimately quite rewarding," Latu told Radio Sport.
"Whether I make it or not next week I know that I'm here purely to give it another crack because I'm not one to back away from a fight."
The opportunity to be play in this week's National Champs in Wellington has also helped Latu rediscover her enjoyment for the game, with the veteran enjoying the opportunity to play alongside some top young talent in her Waitakere side. Latu is one of several big names turning out at the tournament, including former Silver Fern Irene van Dyk (Wellington), and three members of the New Zealand World Cup team - Grace Rasmussen (Waitakere), Phoenix Karaka and Malia Paseka (North Harbour).
The tournament will provide Latu with some tough match-play before next week's trials, but she said that was not her motivation for taking part in her first National Champs in five years.
"My first job is to perform and lead this Netball Waitakere side to the top four, which is something we haven't done for a while. But you can't really escape the fact that next week I'm going to be trying to make it back into the Silver Ferns team."
Waitakere got off to a slow start in the tournament, just edging past Counties Manukau 56-52 on the opening day. They will face strong competition for a semifinals spot from North Harbour, Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington, all of whom have a sprinkling of Silver Ferns and ANZ Championship talent.
The tournament continues with the remaining pool play matches today, before moving into play-offs tomorrow through Friday.
