This time last year the idea of playing rugby at an elite level wasn't something Ash Walker had really thought about.
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A pipe dream maybe, but nothing really beyond that.
But then after impressing for the University of Melbourne during last year's AON Uni 7s came up, she was scouted to be involved in the Melbourne Rebels Super W campaign.
Fast forward 12 months, and fresh from helping the Hunter Wildfires win the Jack Scott Cup Division 2 premiership, Walker will this weekend take what she hopes is the first step towards a spot with the Waratahs for next year's tournament.
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At Singleton on Saturday the Moree native will join some of the best talent in the bush at the selection trials for the NSW Country Women's side to play in the 2020 Chikarovski Cup.
To be played over two weekends (November 7 and 8 and November 14 and 15), the tournament will will feature two Sydney teams, a team from the ACT and the Corellas and be used to identify players for the Waratahs 2021 squad.
A breakout star in this year's competition, Walker enjoyed her time with the Rebels, but being based in Newcastle is looking to stay a bit closer to home.
Her first real exposure to elite level rugby, the experience whet her appetite to play more and also saw her emerge as one of the country's brightest centre prospects.
Before she joined the Rebels she always played half-back.
Moving to inside centre, the 22-year old was a revelation.
She was named in RUGBY.com.au's Super W Team of the Year and from that was voted by the rugby public as the competition's best player.
Linking up with the Wildfires for their first year in the Sydney competition, she continued on that form.
She was a standout for them and played a prominent role in their 29-24 grand final win over Campbelltown on Saturday crossing for a try, and kicking three conversions and a penalty for a 14-point haul.
"The first half we went out and kept to the game structure and it paid off," she said.
"The second half we were a bit slow, we got a bit carried away and got a bit tired."
There were some nervous moments as the Harlequins closed to within four points with six minutes to play but the Wildfires held on.
Walker enjoyed the campaign with what she described as "a great bunch of girls", the premiership another for the highlights reel of what she reflected has been "a pretty big year".
"Probably my biggest in rugby," she went on.
"(But) Hopefully there's bigger and better things to come after COVID."