Ever since she got her first taste of rugby, Claudia Nielsen had been wanting to have a crack at 7s.
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Now she knows why.
The Rugby WA Super W rep has been a sensation for Pirates in this seasons New England women's 7's competition and will at Walcha on Saturday be hoping to lead them to a second successive grand final.
But it won't be an easy task against a Glen Innes outfit that in their round clash provided the minor premiers one of their toughest tests of the season.
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The highest point scorer in the competition, Nielsen has thoroughly enjoyed the season after what was supposed to be a short holiday turned into an extended visit.
"It's been good, super fast," she said.
"I've loved being out there. It's a cool game."
"It's kind of sad that it's nearly over."
It is the first finals series that she has been a part of with rugby, and she spoke about how much potential there is in the side.
"We've had weeks where we've been challenged but I think there's just so much talent in the team and in the junior program as well..." Nielsen said.
"We've started from a base and just kept getting better."
Undefeated so far, Pirates are fully aware of the threat the Elkettes pose and will, Nielsen said, have to put their bodies on the line.
"Not in a cliche way but in terms of being pretty solid in defence," she said.
They are coming off the bye and have used the time to really take a step back and look at how sevens is played.
"Where we can manipulate space rather than just playing hands," Nielsen explained.
"It's pretty easy to just go through kind of club-style footy but we've tried to take a leaf out of the elite seven's style of play."
She has also dipped her toe into the coaching pool this season, mentoring Pirates' under-14s girls side with fellow women's star Jacinta Cooper.
"The girls that play in our 14s team are better than JC and I half the time," she joked.
"Some of them are such guns, they're going to be really good when they come through. But they're about 20 kilos dripping wet some of them."
It is a big weekend for the multi-talented star, who has also been playing hockey with Olympians in the Tamworth women's first grade competition.
Fighting it out with Waratahs and South United for the remaining grand final spot they had their Round 10 clash against Tudor Wests on Friday night.
Two points behind Waratahs and fourth on goal difference, a win would keep their hopes alive with Services to come in the final round on Sunday.
- The first game on Saturday is at 12.40pm