Claudia Nielsen admits she still has to pinch herself after what has been a whirlwind rise through the rugby ranks.
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Less than a year after first picking up a rugby ball, the former Tamworth native has played every minute of every game of RugbyWA's Super W campaign.
"It's very surreal," she said.
When initially invited to trial for the squad, the 21-year-old joked that she was trialing to be the water girl, and was then just happy to be part of extended squad, hoping to soak up as much as she could.
But then the team was announced for their opening game against Queensland, and there was her name next to the number 14.
"I was shocked, I wasn't even sure I'd be in the 23," Nielsen said.
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So unexpected was it that she hadn't even brought a pair of proper women's boots. She had just brought some kids boots thinking she wouldn't be wearing them much other than at training.
No stranger to the big game environment having played in gold medal hockey games at national championships, Nielsen said before running out she'd never been as nervous.
It was a bit of a baptism of fire with the Queenslanders running out 28-3 winners.
The game was played as part of a double header at Suncorp Stadium, which she was was a huge buzz.
As was having her family there sideline to watch her make her debut.
The Calrossy alumni had a few runs, although in her view probably didn't have the impact that some of the other wingers had in attack, but she importantly made her tackles.
After then accounting for the Rebels 38-10 they fell to the Waratahs 31-nil last weekend.
Their final game is against the Brumbies at Wanneroo on Sunday in what is a "must-win" if they want to play finals with the two fighting for the remaining spot.
Nielsen said the Brumbies are a really strong team and is expecting the game to be the biggest tests for her and counterparts in the back three. All three are relatively green at Super W level.
"The other winger and the fullback are both only 17 so we've got two young girls in the back three and myself who is young mentally in the game," she said.
That said, retaining her spot has given her a lot of confidence and she is with each game starting to feel more comfortable.
"I still have a lot to learn in the game sense,"she said.
"(But) The physicality grows on you and is something I'm feeling more comfortable with."
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She said the biggest challenge has been juggling learning the intricacies of the game while sill performing for the team.
"I'm just hoping I do enough for the team," she said.
Nielsen certainly though isn't taking anything for granted and spoke about "not matter what" working hard.
It was one of the traits the Olympians star was known for during her hockey days in Tamworth.
