For Louise Thayer, getting the chance to take her netball career to the next level has been more about being in the wrong place at the right time.
Thayer (24) is in her rookie season with the Southern Steel and has found herself in the thick of the action in recent weeks, playing the last quarter against the Thunderbirds in Adelaide, and the whole second half against the Mystics in Dunedin.
The slightly odd point about her elevation is that her court time has been in the wing defence bib, when she has previously been a specialist circle defender.
Still, Thayer's energy and height are just as useful in the position often equated to rugby's thankless blindside flanker role, and she has eagerly seized the chance to dive into ANZ Championship waters.
"It's a big shift. I hadn't really played any netball at wing defence apart from a couple of games at club level," Thayer said yesterday.
"I'm starting to get a handle on it, though I still feel like I'm running around all over the place at times."
Thayer's game time at wing defence might be limited but she has been training all season to provide cover in the position.
Now, with Steel midcourter Courtney Tairi sidelined with injury, it is possible she will get a start against the Queensland Firebirds in Invercargill tomorrow, with centre Shannon Francois and regular wing defence Phillipa Finch each moving forward a spot.
Thayer has picked up tips on wing defence play from seeing her team-mates at various levels in action.
"Knowing what the wing defence position looks like from the back has helped.
"As a goal keep, I know what I like my wing defence to do.
"I'm used to being the one that jumps up and down and tries to get the intercepts.
"Wing defence is more groundwork and a lot more running around."
Having a little extra height in the midcourt could also help, she acknowledged.
Thayer is working as a physiotherapist at the Roslyn Physiotherapy Clinic, where Steel physio Brett Woodley is one of her bosses and is very understanding when she needs time off.
She is relishing her debut season, being part of the Steel - "such a cool bunch of girls" - and representing her home region.
Thayer was raised near Gore but has been in Dunedin since high school.
The Steel needs to regain some confidence after slipping to a third consecutive loss last weekend.
The side has shown plenty of tenacity in recent weeks but has been left ruing some slow starts.
With just one more win (three) than the Steel, the Firebirds have not exactly been dominant this season.
But the defending champion comes into the game after two straight wins, and any team with Romelda Aiken at one end and Laura Geitz at the other must not be taken lightly.
Aiken has put up the most shots in the competition - she has scored 236 goals from 291 attempts - and she (27) and Geitz (23) are the top two rebounders.
The Steel has applied to include Otago midcourter Gina Crampton in the squad for the game tomorrow, as temporary cover for the injured Tairi.
