A battle-scarred Norma Plummer can see a time when her love affair with netball ends.
But she'll be going out on her terms.
Closing on her 74th birthday, Plummer is at an age where top-level professional sport is typically enjoyed from an armchair.
Instead, the former long-serving Diamonds coach is preparing South Africa to tackle the world's three leading nations in the Quad Series.
Her passion hasn't waned but she knows the clock is ticking on a career in which she captained her country before devoting 35 years to prowling the sideline as a coach and challenging the sport's conventions.
Plummer revealed to AAP she has no written contract with Netball South Africa.
It's a competition-by-competition deal, with the vague understanding she'll still be in charge at next year's World Cup in Liverpool.
"If it's not working, I don't want to be bound by a contract," Plummer said.
"They know how much I put into it but if it got to the stage where it didn't suit me for any reason, I just want to be able to pull the pin.
"I'm an old girl now, you've got to remember.'
Plummer has overseen obvious gains with South Africa, whose players are starting to make an impact in the leading Australian, English and New Zealand club leagues.
Coach of Australia from 2003 to 2011, she is looking forward to duking it out again with her long-serving successor Lisa Alexander in Auckland on Saturday.
However, Plummer's netball radar hasn't all been focused on the elite end.
Tapping the deep talent pool in Africa has been a goal since linking with Proteas in 2015.
She notes South Africa, Malawi and Uganda are ranked fifth to seventh in the world and is frustrated at the obstacles which prevent them climbing higher.
"Some of these African teams, all they need is some coaching. Seriously, the talent's there," she said.
"But their coaches don't get the opportunities. It's sad because it could be so much more competitive."
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