With two goals in her back pocket and the Matildas on the horizon, Emily Gielnik is making up for lost time.
The former national team stalwart has bounced back from a calf injury that ended her last A-League Women season and any hope she had of reaching the Paris Olympics.
But now powerful striker Gielnik, 32, looms as a potential call-up by interim coach Tom Sermanni for games against Brazil and Taiwan across late November and early December.
The striker has enjoyed a red-hot start, scoring a brace against Adelaide United first-up.
"I haven't spoken to Tommy, but him and I go way back and he is a fair guy, and there is a lot of opportunity with four games coming up (in Australia)," Gielnik told AAP.
"It's probably a good time to be an Australian-based player.
"But look, I don't know what he's thinking. I don't know if he will reach out, but I'm not relying on it.
"I'm trying to let my football do the talking. I've got a couple of games to build fitness and to get some conditioning and consistency under my belt, and then ultimately, it's in his hands."
With Sam Kerr sidelined and Caitlin Foord and Michelle Heyman the main No.9s in Australia's squad, Gielnik knows she can put her name up in lights.
"I'm always going to push to be back in that team. I'm going to work as hard as I can," Gielnik said.
"But what I am doing this year, as opposed to last year, is just taking that pressure off myself.
"I'm going to just put the club first, and try and do well for the team and do well for myself. And if that happens I believe the rewards will come."
After Victory were knocked out in an elimination final, with an injured Gielnik watching on, the hunger for silverware burns.
"The difference between last season pulling up short and this season is our squad depth. We've got the team to do it this year," she said.
"I've set out a goal. I want to hold the minor premiers trophy and win the whole thing.
"It'd be nice to be top goalscorer at the end of that as well."
That will be tested in Saturday's derby against last year's premiers Melbourne City in a double header with the men's team at AAMI Park.
"We gave them a bit too much respect last year. We stood off them. We let them play their game and dominate the possession," Gielnik said.
"I know for a fact it will be very different this weekend.
"It's going to be a big one. For us, it's a non-negotiable, must-win."
Western United open the round against Central Coast on Friday night while Brisbane host Sydney FC on Saturday.
On Sunday, Wellington play Canberra, Western Sydney host Adelaide and Perth take on Newcastle.
