World Sailor of the Year Peter Burling will re-join the crew of Team Brunel in leg six of the Volvo Ocean Race.
Burling sat out the fourth leg of the race after a hectic two years, in which he won gold at the Rio Olympics and helped lead Emirates Team New Zealand's win in the 35th America's Cup in Bermuda.
Read more: Volvo Ocean Race: Peter Burling skips leg to Hong Kong
However, sailing into Auckland in first place would be a dream come true for Burling, as he hopes to help pick up Team Brunel's game in the final leg.
"I've watched the Volvo come into Auckland a few times and it's absolutely amazing to see how many get down there and how many people follow the boats in and get out on the water," Burling told Newshub.
"I've seen the photos of when the Whitbread came to town a few years ago and heard some pretty good stories."
"It will be an absolutely amazing experience sailing into the home port."
Team Brunel finished fifth in leg four of the race and is placed fifth overall, well off the leading pace of MAPFRE.
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The team have added reinforcements for the next leg of the race in a desperate attempt to boost its underwhelming performance.
Annie Lush will also re-join Team Brunel in the sixth leg, after an intensive recovery program in Hong Kong.
Lush broke two bones in her foot and one in her back last month when a wave hit the boat slamming her into the rear guard.
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"I'm really excited to get the result last week that the recovery has gone well and so I can join the team for the next leg,'' Lush said.
"It's been a nervous week waiting for the scan results. Next to that I was also watching the team and shouting at the tracker, willing them into Hong Kong. I'm looking forward to seeing the rest of the team, and hearing what we can learn from this leg, to get the result we're aiming for in the next one.''