Matildas stalwart Tameka Yallop is determined to return from a serious hamstring tear for upcoming games against New Zealand and find form ahead of the Asian Cup in her home town.
Gold Coast local and Brisbane captain Yallop suffered a bad hamstring injury in the final game of the A-League Women season in April.
That has meant missing out on new coach Joe Montemurro's first camps, but the veteran is now targeting the November window against the Kiwis to make her case to impress.
"When you look at it, there's never a good time to be injured, really," Yallop told AAP.
"It happens to the best of us, whether you're experienced or not, it's something that you just have to deal with in in your career.
"I had to get a few follow-up scans just to make sure it was kind of reattaching properly - and there was a couple of tears in there as well. So I did a really good job of it, but I am on track.
"I've got the next camp in my sights, but A-League's kicking off soon, so got to focus on that first before looking at the Tillies stuff."
Yallop expects to gradually build minutes early in the Roar's season.
The first allocation of tickets for Australia's March 5 group stage match against Iran at Gold Coast Stadium is exhausted, to Yallop's delight.
"It's exciting, and nerve wracking at the same time, knowing pretty much everyone you know in your local community is coming," she said.
Yallop, 34, is set to have plenty of family and friends in the crowd but is determined not to put pressure on herself to make the squad.
"For me, it's just to get on the field as soon as I can, and not to get too far ahead of myself," she said.
Yallop, one of Australia's most senior and versatile players, has already spoken with Montemurro.
"He's been really good with making sure players know where they're at and what he's expecting, and so I've had some good conversations with him," she said.
"Obviously the tournament's so close and he doesn't have much prep time as well.
"He's done an excellent job of getting everyone grouped together and focused on this next tournament and understanding where they are now but also where they could be in the future after the tournament as well."
As a teenager, Yallop was in the squad that won the 2010 Asian Cup, her first major tournament.
"We weren't playing in front of anyone, and we were just coming home to telling our friends and family how cool it was," she said.
"I would love to lift that trophy again, and to do it on home soil with people actually watching would just be a whole new level."
