After missing the entire Aon Uni 7s, Georgie Friedrichs has declared her intent to take her game to a new level as she prepares to return to the Australian Sevens setup in Dubai.
The 22-year-old hasn't played in seven months due to an ankle injury but she has been named in coach Tim Walsh's side for the opening leg of the HSBC Sevens World Series.
Walsh's words, according to Friedrichs, have focused on ensuring the Toowoomba product backs the work she has done off field to lay a platform to return to the field fit and firing.
"I just need to improve my confidence out there," Friedrichs said.
"I can't be afraid to back myself.
"That's the biggest thing, my confidence."
Friedrichs' imminent return has been a long time coming.
The Queenslander hasn't laced up the boots since May and she admitted there were some dark moments while forming part of team rehab.
"It's been a very long road trying to rehab properly and get back as soon as I can," she said.
"It's been a long time."
The toughest part came when the inaugural Uni 7s series kicked off - an opportunity for a player like Friedrichs to entrench herself in Walsh's best 12 players.
"Watching the series was really hard," Friedrichs said.
"That's lots of minute to miss out on so that was really hard to watch that.
"But it also motivated me to work hard in the gym and get back out there."
Having fallen short of Cup glory at the Oceania Sevens, the Australians will also be without stars Chloe Dalton and Alicia Quirk in Dubai.
But despite the absence of that pair, Friedrichs remains confident her side have what it takes to turn the tables come November 31.
"I think the girls did really well at Oceania - especially with the conditions," she said.
"There are little things here and there that we are still sorting out at training so hopefully we can get that sorted by next week and go one better."
The Dubai Sevens kick off on November 30, broadcast LIVE on FOX SPORTS.
