She had even doubted whether she wanted to put her mind and body through another rehabilitation program, but the sacrifices she made are about to pay off with a Wallaroos return.

Milward will end a four-year exile when she pulls on the Wallaroos jersey to face New Zealand for the Laurie O'Reilly Cup at ANZ Stadium on Saturday. It will be the first time the Wallaroos have played in Australia in 10 years.

"I haven’t let my thoughts run wild with it yet and let the excitement get to me, but I know as soon as I jump on that bus and chuck some music on, I’ll be geeing myself up," Milward said.

"The excitement will build, the nerves will kick in, and the moment will really sink in. Even going to the stadium to do our captain's run there, walking out on the grass, picturing where you’re going to play and the size of the stadium, things like that, it will be good to get that out of the way.

"It’s been a little while since I pulled the jersey on but that doesn’t make you any less proud. It makes you hungry to do it again because you realise you really have to work in between drinks to get there so it’s an honour to be able to put the jersey on again."

But an Australian call-up was bittersweet for Tuggeranong Viqueens lock Milward and Uni-Norths flanker Georgia O'Neill.

The pair should be playing against each other in the ACT women's grand final at Viking Park on Saturday, but will instead have to watch the live stream to see which team wins.

"We’ll probably have a little niggle at each other on game day about it, but we keep it pretty light-hearted," Milward said.

"We both wish we could be running out for our club teams but it’s a pretty monumental occasion this weekend to be a part of. It’s a pretty good excuse to miss it I guess.

"I would love to be a part of it because I have every faith in the world that this year is our year. I’ll be sending them a message to pass on my thoughts and wish I was there.

"I know they’ll do the job. Hopefully I can get their result before I run out and hopefully they have the trophy in hand."

The Viqueens are intent on making amends for losing the grand final last year after winning every other game in the season. They've been runners-up for the past three years and are chasing their first title since 2010.

The Owls toppled the defending champion Royals side last weekend and scrumhalf Jane Garraway said they were oozing confidence.

"There's no pressure on us. Tuggeranong are undefeated, they're the ones who probably have to prove themselves," Garraway said.

"We'll go in with a bit of confidence after beating Royals given they've won the last three years. We'll play some hard rugby and see what comes about."

Viqueens captain Peta Cox played alongside Garraway at the Owls before linking with Tuggeranong and said there would be no love lost in the grand final.

"We bash each other on the field and then come off and have a drink together," Cox said.

"We don't want [losing the grand final] to happen again. We're definitely ready to hold the trophy up this year, and we've got a few girls leaving this year so it will be a good way to finish."

CANBERRA WOMEN'S GRAND FINAL

Saturday: Tuggeranong Viqueens v Uni-Norths Owls at Viking Park No. 2, 1.15pm.

LAURIE O'REILLY CUP

Saturday: Wallaroos v New Zealand Black Ferns at ANZ Stadium, 5.45pm. TV: Live on Fox Sports. Tickets from Ticketek.

Wallaroos squad: 1. Emily Robinson, 2. Liz Patu, 3. Evelyn Horomia, 4. Michelle Milward, 5. Rebecca Clough, 6. Emily Chancellor, 7. Georgia O’Neill, 8. Grace Hamilton, 9. Cobie-Jane Morgan, 10. Trileen Pomare, 11. Samantha Treherne, 12. Crystal Maguire, 13. Atasi Lafai, 14. Mhicca Carter, 15. Mahalia Murphy. Reserves: 16. Darryl Wickliffe, 17. Melissa Fatu, 18. Hana Ngaha, 19 Alisha Hewett, 20. Kiri Lingman, 21. Alice Tonumaivao, 22. Fenella Hake, 23. Shanice Parker.

Black Ferns squad: 1. Phillipa Love, 2. Fiao'o Faamausili (c), 3. Aldora Itunu, 4. Eloise Blackwell, 5. Charmaine Smith, 6. Charmaine McMenamin, 7. Les Elder, 8. Aroha Savage, 9. Kendra Cocksedge, 10. Ruahei Demant, 11. Alena Saili, 12. Theresa Fitzpatrick, 13. Stacey Waaka, 14. Renee Wickliffe, 15. Selica Winiata. Reserves: 16. Te Kura Ngata-Aerengamate, 17. Cristo Tofa, 18. Leilani Perese, 19. Jackie Patea-Fereti, 20. Linda Itunu, 21. Kristina Sue, 22. Krysten Cottrell, 23. Chelsea Alley.