As the youngest member of Australia's all-conquering netball team, Liz Watson is acutely aware of her additional responsibilities on their three-Test tour of England.
The 21-year-old rising star made her international debut in the first Test victory in Liverpool, and brought a special guest onto the court - and it wasn't parents Neil and Manuela who'd made the trip and watched from the stands.
'Thumper', the team's kangaroo mascot, is the unofficial 13th member of the Diamonds squad and has to be dragged to team meetings, training sessions and even to Test matches by Watson.
On Wednesday, as the team's walked out on court to shake hands and await the national anthems, Watson had the stuffed toy tucked under her arm.
"One of the English girls even gave him a little high-five. He's definitely part of the team," Watson said.
And, following her whirlwind rise over the past two years, so is Watson.
A late call-up to the Melbourne Vixens squad on the eve of the 2014 season as cover for the pregnant Elissa Kent, Watson's path to the Australian squad has been rapid.
The talented midcourter is regularly stunned at the company she now keeps but feels she truly belongs after becoming Australia's most recent debutante.
"I'm still pinching myself. Definitely this moment has come a lot earlier at this point in my career than I ever thought it would," Watson told AAP.
"But being part of this squad for the past year and a bit, I feel very much a part of the group."
She's quickly earned the support of her teammates and coach, all of whom predict a long future in the national colours.
Coach Lisa Alexander was impressed with the debut, though advised the young centre to "read the faces" of her teammates more when running the midcourt.
"But there were a couple of occasions when in the midcourt her distribution was excellent, just really composed and read the situation very well," Alexander said.
"She summed it up well and withstood the pressure in those last two minutes."
