Rain or shine, the Football Ferns are out training, and Michaela Foster isn't complaining.
"That is the dream obviously, to be a full-time footballer, and to be living it now is pretty amazing," she told Newshub.
A dream that hasn't taken long to become reality. This time last year, she was playing for the Northern Rovers in the National League, and there were no rookie struggles once she signed up with the Phoenix.
Foster was crowned player of the year in her first season with the Phoenix, all while working part-time at New World.
"It's been a bit of a whirlwind season and it's all been uphill for me," she said.
The 24-year-old's hoping to continue that trajectory by securing a spot in the Football Ferns for July's home World Cup, after making her debut in February.
But football's showpiece isn't the only big event the Foster household's preparing for.
"Definitely," she answered when asked if she is the more famous Foster now.
Her dad, Ian Foster, is the All Blacks coach, and knows a thing or two about being at the top of the game.
"He's been through it, he's going through it this year with the World Cup too, so the pressure for him is probably more than the pressure I have," she said.
"But the way he handles everything has been incredible."
Valuable inside knowledge, albeit the pair will have very different roles come July, and September.
"I definitely listen to him more the older I get," Foster said. "It's definitely not a coach-player situation, it is daughter-father, which is really nice.
"So a normal kind of family, you kind of forget about the titles, which is good for both of us."
