Kayla Cullen had her doubts if she would be heading to the Netball World Cup in Sydney with the Silver Ferns.
Cullen started in New Zealand's 67-28 victory over South Africa in Auckland, but didn't think she'd be donning the black dress after her slow start to the season with the Northern Mystics.
"At the beginning of the season I was playing terribly and I was still very hesitant on my knee, so I didn't think I would get selected for the team," said Cullen.
"But when I did I was very happy and excited to be going [to the World Cup]."
Cullen's knee kept her out of last year's Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, an injury that took her 13 months to recover.
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The World Cup will be the 23-year-old's first tournament with the Silver Ferns, and she believes the new-look squad has the potential to go the distance across the ditch.
"I think we're looking pretty good now and I think we have it, we have what it takes to head over there and put out a solid performance and get that gold medal."
Watch the full interview with Kayla Cullen.
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