Belinda Colling is frank in her assessment of what lies ahead on the court.
The former Silver Fern is back in the country with ambitions of wearing the black dress at next year's Commonwealth Games.
The 77-test veteran moved to Scotland last year to join her rugby-playing partner Charlie Hore
who had signed a contract with the Borders club.
She returned to Christchurch on Monday - celebrating her 30th birthday - after a journey from Scotland with five-month-old son Max.
Tonight, Colling will venture to training with the Canterbury provincial side - meeting some of her team-mates for the very first time.
And on Friday she is likely to be back on court in red-and-black colours when Canterbury start their championship bid with preliminary matches at Pioneer Stadium.
The extra twist in the road ahead is a bothersome knee injury which "flared up" just before her trip home.
"I had been training quite well on my own in Scotland," she said. "But then my knee flared up so I had to taper off a bit to let it settle down.
"It's a bit of a bummer."
While most of her preparation in Scotland had been by herself, the former Canterbury Flames captain had specific training with a franchise in Newcastle.
"They're actually called the Flames, too," she said. "So I did court work with the girls there, which helped."
She is confident of playing in Christchurch this week when Canterbury host the Scottwood national championship preliminary matches starting against Wellington on Friday night.
"I probably won't be going full steam into all the games, but it will be good to get out there," Colling said. "I'm just getting into Canterbury netball mode and doing my best for them."
Knowing the bulk of the squad should help her ease back into play.
"That's why I came back to Canterbury because it's what I know, and easier I guess when you've got those people that you've had experience with."
Colling has been in regular touch with Netball New Zealand and Ferns coach Ruth Aitken since moving to Scotland.
