Anna Lanning will start her ACT Meteors journey on Friday and the chance to do it against a team that didn't offer her a contract adds the extra motivation to her comeback game.
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But the 24-year-old says her only incentive to do well is to help the Meteors secure an important WNCL win under lights at Manuka Oval.
Lanning, the younger sister of Australian skipper Meg Lanning, has recovered from the meniscus injury which forced her to miss the first two games of the season in September.
She is ready to make her own mark on the Australian domestic competition, but has put bowling on hold after damaging her knee at Meteors training and then missing the next nine weeks.
"I'm feeling pretty good. Obviously it wasn't ideal [leaving Victoria], my life is in Melbourne, family and friends as well," Lanning said.
"But in terms of the opportunity to go to the ACT, I had to take it. Mentally and physically I'm probably in the best shape I've ever been, so it's a real credit to the support and coaching staff [in Canberra].
"Whilst the move was forced, I think it's been the best thing for my cricket and my career. Something that stuck with me that [former Meteors coach James Allsopp] said to me was that I've come to the ACT to improve, not to prove anything.
"For me, that's stuck with me. There will obviously be some extra incentive to do well [against Victoria], but in saying that it is just another game and a chance to improve, get some runs and hopefully we can get a win."
Lanning has a deal to play for the Melbourne Renegades in the Women's Big Bash, and game time with the Meteors will be crucial to helping her find top form.
She has played just one game since injuring her knee and will only ease herself back into bowling to ensure she doesn't suffer any setbacks.
Meg Lanning's international duties at the World Twenty20 in the West Indies means there will be no sister showdown in the capital, but they will square off against each other for the first time in the Big Bash in December.
"We’ve never even played against each other before so it will be a bit of a weird feeling, but hopefully a bit of a change of scenery for her has helped her and hopefully she does really well this year," Meg Lanning said.
"She’s a very good striker of the ball, looks to hit boundaries and she is a clean hitter. She’s been working really hard on her batting to improve her strike rate and getting off strike and she has been able to do that.
"Hopefully she gets the chance, she can bat for a little while, bat some time and get some good scores under her belt."
Anna added: "It's a double-edged sword. She's the best player in the world, so you'd rather play with her than against her.
"But in saying that, I'm really competitive so I want to play against the best. She's got more important things on at the moment, but we've pencilled in our first game against each other and we're looking forward to that."
The Meteors lost their season-opener against Tasmania, but bounced back against Queensland on the first weekend of the season in September.
They will play against Victoria in a day-night 50-over clash on Friday night and then back up against Western Australia on Sunday.
"Playing at Manuka under lights on Friday is really exciting, hopefully we get a few people down after work to come and watch some cricket. Manuka is one of the best grounds I've played at, it's such a good ground for women's cricket," Lanning said.
The Meteors will finish their season with matches against NSW and South Australia in Adelaide on February 2 and 3.
WNCL ROUND TWO
Friday: ACT Meteors v Victoria at Manuka Oval, 2.30pm. Sunday: ACT Meteors v Western Fury at Manuka Oval, 10am.
