Fit and fresh Diamonds defender Rebecca Bulley is ready to step up and take some of the burden off her battle-weary teammates during the Netball World Cup.
Bulley says her limited court time during the trans-Tasman season may have been a blessing in disguise, because her body is now well-charged ahead of her debut in the sport's most prized tournament.
The 32-year-old battled to get in the mix during her first ANZ Championship season with the Queensland Firebirds, where she was up against the well-established back three of Clare McMeniman, Australian captain Laura Geitz and Gabi Simpson.
It meant Bulley spent big chunks of time sitting on the bench watching McMeniman play in her favoured goal-defence position.
But the 38-Test veteran's high impact during the minutes she was in action - including a standout last-quarter performance in the Firebirds' epic one-point grand final win over the NSW Swifts - stood out enough for Diamonds coach Lisa Alexander to select her ahead of McMeniman in her final World Cup 12.
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In a squad full of exhausted bodies following a relentless season, Bulley is looking forward to shouldering more responsibility in the defensive circle.
"The good thing is coming into this I'm probably the freshest I've ever been," Bulley said from Newcastle where the team are in camp before facing Trinidad and Tobago in their opening pool match on Friday.
"I think the reduced court time in the ANZ was probably really good for me, and I've had a great preparation doing my weights down in Wollongong.
"I feel ready to go and I feel like I can step up and take some of that load off the players."
It will be a relief to Alexander, whose other defenders, Geitz and Swifts duo Julie Corletto and Sharni Layton, all played major roles in June's grand final after enduring a tough finals series slog.
Even more so given veteran goal defence Corletto has been heavily restricted in training as she nurses a niggling foot injury.
Bulley said she took confidence from her performance in the decider and was hoping to step it up another notch this week as Australia aim to win a third consecutive world title.
"I often think about, what did I do in that game, what do I need to keep improving on and what are the things I can take from that game.
"And try and implement it each time I take the court."
