Former Silver Fern defender Sheryl Scanlan is gunning for a place in next year's world championship side but knows she faces a battle to get there.
Five months after the birth of her first child, Jafeth, Scanlan, 29, was named in the Force's preliminary squad yesterday.
The eightNational Bank Cup franchises had to submit squads up of 18 players to Netball New Zealand yesterday. They have until February to select their final teams of 12.
Scanlan's last game for New Zealand was against Australia in October last year.
She withdrew from the New Zealand squad the following month after announcing she was pregnant but never indicated she would retiring from the game.
"I definitely wanted to play National Bank Cup next year from the beginning. After the baby was born I did think about going back for the nationals but I thought it was better to take my time and get my body back to where it was or hopefully better."
Scanlan started walking six weeks after her son was delivered by caesarean.
"I tell you - you have to start right from the start, I went to the gym and jumped on the treadmill and, honestly, I couldn't even last five minutes - I couldn't believe it."
She took part in the recent Force trials which she said went "okay".
"The mind wants to get the ball but the body is not quite getting there. There is a lot to work on."
But she is confident that when the National Bank Cup starts in April she'll be almost back to her old self.
"I am quite happy with my progress at the moment. I am really enjoying my training and doing different things. I am playing indoor netball to try to get the skills back and court fitness going."
Her return to the Force will see her reunited with her old Ferns teammate Vilimaina Davu - together the pair brought down the Australians in the final of the 2003 world championships.
Davu's surprise retirement has left a gap in the Silver Ferns defence, but to earn that spot Scanlan will have to prove she is better than incumbents Anna Scarlett, Joline Henry, Casey Williams and Leana de Bruin.
What she does have in her favour is her versatility. She is as effective at goal defence as she is at wing defence.
