For Otere Black, selection for the Māori All Blacks is another small step back from an injury that threatened to derail is rugby career 12 months ago.
Just days after signing a Super Rugby contract with the Blues, where he was projected as a possible starter in the troubled first-five spot, Black tore knee ligaments in Mitre 10 Cup game between Manawatu and Tasman.
He never suited up for the Blues and only returned to the Turbos line-up last month.
So being named in the Māori squad was a sign that he hadn't been forgotten by the national selectors, after steering the national U20 side to the 2015 World Cup crown.
"It's been a pretty tough year for myself and I haven't been able to play a lot of footy, so I'm really excited," Black told Newshub.
"It's the only injury I've had, so it's tested my character a little bit. It's been challenging but it's been good.
"There were some pretty dark times, but other than that, it's been a pretty enjoyable journey. I've learned a lot about myself."
Black paid tribute to the medical staff that have guided him along the recovery path.
"The knee's feeling really good," he said. "I've put a lot of work into rehab, with the phyios and all the doctors.
"I think all of that's worth it now, being named in the side.
"There's still a lot of room for improvement and there's still a lot of things I want to work on in the rehab side of things to make sure I look after my body, because it's not going to be the same any more, after such a bad injury."
On top form, he may have been a bolter for the expanded All Blacks side named earlier in the week for Japan and Europe - that role went to relatively unheralded Canterbury first-five Brett Cameron - but Black is happy just to be wearing black again.
"To be honest, I'm just happy to be back playing and wasn't expecting to be in any side," he said. "I haven't played a lot of footy."
The Māori All Blacks begin their three-game Americas tour against the United States at Chicago's Soldier Field on November 3, part of a tripleheader that also includes Ireland vs Italy and the Black Ferns facing the US women's team.
"I think it's going to be an awesome experience for everybody involved," said Black. "It's going to be a massive week in Chicago, I can't wait."
Newshub.
