Through setback after setback, Mathew Leckie never lost sight of the bigger picture.
Now, after finally getting his calves and hamstrings right, the Melbourne City attacker is fit and ready for the A-League Men finals.
"Obviously I've had had a few injuries that have at numerous different times kept me out for a certain amount of time," Leckie told AAP.
"It's good to be back now, obviously at an important time and hopefully I can see out the rest of the season, play the finals and make a contribution.
"I'm fit and ready to go."
Leckie's influence across two semi-final legs against Western United could be crucial to delivering City a grand final berth.
When fit, Leckie, 34, can also make a difference for the Socceroos.
But between various injuries, Leckie is yet to play under Tony Popovic - and insists he's not thinking about crunch qualifiers against Japan and Saudi Arabia.
"Obviously everyone's aware of what's to come for the national team but for me it's been more so living in the moment and trying to just stay fit and healthy," he said.
"It's one of those things where I don't want to look too far ahead because I don't know what's to happen.
"First and foremost I need to be physically in a good spot to even be considered and I also need to be performing.
"So trying to live in the moment, trying to stay fit, trying to see out these finals games.
"And then if I'm able to do that and have a strong contribution to the team and play well, that'll I guess open an opportunity that 'Popa' would consider."
First, Leckie would love to lift silverware with long-time Socceroos teammate Aziz Behich.
"We were fortunate enough to celebrate the Asian Cup together (in 2015)," he said.
"So for us many years later to be playing together, it's funny how football works.
"He's a good friend and if we were to be able to go all the way, it would be special for all of us as a group, but for our longevity of friendship it would be a good moment."
Leckie has enjoyed spending time in midfield, as well as the wing, in a City team "willing to run and defend" to grind out games.
"Even in those suffering moments we've had in a lot of games, we've been able to grit our teeth and see out results," he said.
He knows they may need to do things the hard way against United in Friday's first leg at AAMI Park.
"It's gonna be tough," he said.
"They've always been a really well-organised team, they're really good at what they do.
"For a few seasons now under John Aloisi they've not changed much but they've just gotten better at what they do."
