Laura Scherian started her career in the capital with the Darters before scoring a top-flight contract in 2010, but she was not re-signed a year later and future appearances at the top would prove sporadic.

For years the midcourter toiled away in Australia's second tier competition before she filled the final spot on the Sunshine Coast Lightning's roster for the inaugural Super Netball season - and she has become a force to be reckoned with ever since.

Now the prospect of an Australian Diamonds debut looms as a genuine possibility with coach Lisa Alexander searching for a shock selection that can make the defending champions even more dangerous.

Scherian has joined Cara Koenen, Kim Jenner, Matilda Garrett and Paige Hadley in a five-day Diamonds camp at the AIS with an eye on the Netball World Cup in July.

"It’s a great chance, we always have shown over time and history in Australians teams that have been selected in the past, there is usually one surprise," Alexander said.

"It’s a left of field one, and I certainly expect we’ll get another one this year. It really adds to the fact we are never predictable as a team that turns up to the World Cup.

"It won’t be the same as the Commonwealth Games team from last year, it can’t be, because we’ve had retirements. That’s exciting in itself, and makes us more dangerous."

So close is 30-year-old Scherian to an Australian debut that she still has to pinch herself when she takes to the court alongside the best in the country.

"I’m just actually really excited to be here to train with the Australian Diamonds and to get some match practice in. It’s really exciting to get out on the court with the girls and see what I can do," Scherian said.

"It’s a great opportunity for me as a player and as a person to be in this environment and getting to see what these girls do day in and day out, and also to develop my game, and obviously to have some amazing coaches as well.

"Every day I have been here in camp, I’ve been so excited to be out there. I just want to put out my best."

The final World Cup squad will be announced in late May with the AIS camp and early Super Netball form looming as the key selection criteria.

Diamonds captain Caitlin Bassett hopes some of the five training camp invitees can rise to a new level in the same fashion Kelsey Browne and Jamie-Lee Price have in the past to steel Australia's World Cup tilt.

"In our past as Australians, we have been so successful at world championships, it’s so exciting to have one just around the corner," Bassett said.

"It is a big year for us, we’ve had the Quad Series already and we’ve got a really tough start to the season with Super Netball, and to have a break to go away and play international Tests is something we haven’t done before.

"It’s going to be challenging but we’re looking forward to it."

Diamonds squad: April Brandley (Collingwood Magpies), Caitlin Bassett (GWS Giants), Caitlin Thwaites (Melbourne Vixens), Courtney Bruce (West Coast Fever), Emily Mannix (Melbourne Vixens), Gabi Simpson (Queensland Firebirds), Gretel Tippett (Queensland Firebirds), Jamie-Lee Price (GWS Giants), Jess Anstiss (West Coast Fever), Jo Weston (Melbourne Vixens), Kate Moloney (Melbourne Vixens), Kelsey Browne (Collingwood Magpies), Kiera Austin (GWS Giants), Kim Ravaillion (Collingwood Magpies), Liz Watson (Melbourne Vixens), Sarah Klau (NSW Swifts), Stephanie Wood (Sunshine Coast Lightning), Tegan Philip (Melbourne Vixens)

Camp invitees: Cara Koenen (Sunshine Coast Lightning), Kim Jenner (Queensland Firebirds), Laura Scherian (Sunshine Coast Lightning), Matilda Garrett (Collingwood Magpies), Paige Hadley (NSW Swifts).