It's five months since Megan Connolly went down injured in the early stages of the Republic of Ireland's crucial 1-0 World Cup qualifier win over Finland.
The versatile Brighton and Hove Albion player was filling in at centre-half that evening, and hurt herself in the process of cutting out a dangerous low cross.
There was relief all round when she got back on her feet and played on, producing an excellent display as Ireland picked up a massive three points.
Little wonder then that the extent of the injury, only revealed in the days after the game, left everyone gobsmacked.
Connolly had fractured her ribs and sustained a grade three laceration of the kidney. She was kept in hospital for three days and then spent a further two weeks in bed. Then there was four weeks of rest, a scan a fortnight after that and finally, on week seven, she was able to work towards making it back on the pitch.
Reflecting on how she managed to play on in Tallaght, Connolly said: "I don't know how I did but the adrenaline was crazy. I felt it when it happened but adrenaline took over.
"I felt it at half-time and was worried it would affect me but I didn’t feel it once in the second half. It was grand during the celebrations when I was dancing around.
"Once the adrenaline wore off, the pain began to come. We got it checked out the next day.
"To be fair, I was passing a bit of blood for four or five days after, just because of the nature of it. I think most of the pain went away two or three weeks in and then it was just a case of trying to get back on the pitch, really.
"I just accepted it because it was an injury that I couldn’t control. It was worth it because of the win."
Connolly is, thankfully, fully recovered now. A versatile, highly reliable player, the Cork 25-year-old is always a measured presence, but she admits World Cup fever is already starting to take a grip.
"At the beginning of camp we're having a meeting of what's to come in front of us for the next few months.
"Yeah, it does get you really excited, it does get you dreaming about that first game, dreaming about being on that plane, and I think for everyone, it gives them that incentive to really just get your head down for the next four or five months and really do your best.
"At the end of the day, it's Vera's choice who she brings. I think everyone is just trying to do their best, and dreaming about that first game in Australia."
It's a good bet Connolly will be on that plane given her quality and ability to slot into a number of positions.
She'll get a runout against China in today's friendly at Estadio Nuevo Mirador in Cadiz. And after nine days in camp, everyone is straining at the leash to show Vera Pauw what they can do.
"Everyone wants to build up towards that first game against Australia," said Campbell.
"It is just about building for every game, building a team, whoever that is. It is very competitive at the minute, as you can tell. Everybody wants to be on that plane, everyone wants to be there, which does help in camp. Everyone wants to do their best.
"It is everybody's dream, everybody wants to be there. It is just about building that team togetherness even if the dynamic changes camp from camp when people are getting more chances and different players. But it is just about everyone getting that chance and building the team."
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