Australian sevens skipper Sharni Williams will use Commonwealth Games heartbreak to fuel an ambitious bid to win a second Olympic Games gold medal and a chance to play for the Wallaroos at a home World Cup.
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Williams will miss the rest of the seven world series circuit after having ankle surgery to repair ligaments she damaged in the opening game of the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast.
She hopes to be back on the field for the sevens World Cup and is already setting her sights on the Tokyo Olympics in 2020 and a 15-a-side World Cup spot in 2021.
The 30-year-old says major injuries in the past three years have failed to dampen her passion to play on, adamant the profile of the Wallaroos will enjoy a boom as they prepare for a Bledisloe Cup double-header.
Australia is bidding to host the women's 15-a-side World Cup in 2021 and the Wallaroos will play their first international at home in 10 years when they clash against New Zealand at ANZ Stadium on August 18.
"This year I gave it my all in terms of fitness, diet ... everything I did was for a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games," Williams said.
"I think I was the fittest I've been and that put a little diamond in my eye to say, 'you know what, I reckon I can go until 2020'.
"It's all about assessing my body though. At the moment I'm ticking all of the boxes and really, really enjoying it.
"So the big picture is the Olympics in Tokyo in 2020 and then look at transitioning back to 15s for a home World Cup, which would be pretty amazing in 2021.
"It's only getting bigger and better in the 15s ... it needs to catch sevens [in terms of popularity]. It's put a big carrot in front of me to get through this injury."
Williams has been ruled out for up to nine weeks, meaning she will miss tournaments in Canada and Paris as Australia clings to a narrow world series lead.
Surgeons drilled a hole in the bones of her ankle and use a rope to tighten and pull her tibia and fibula back together.
The injury happened in Australia's first game of the Commonwealth Games, forcing Williams to sit helplessly on the sideline as her teammates lost a thrilling gold medal match against New Zealand.
"It's pretty gutting to be out for the rest of the world series, but I know the girls will go out there and give their all," Williams said.
"I was shattered when I got injured, but I have to look at the positive. I got eight minutes at a home Commonwealth Games and scored a try as well.
"I should make it back for the sevens World Cup in San Francisco, which is my massive goal now. It has to be the silver lining to this injury."
Williams was back in Canberra on Friday to be a part of the first all-female panel at the ACT Brumbies' State of the Union lunch.
The former Royals star started her rugby journey in the capital and has helped build the Australian sevens program into one of the world's best.
She made her Wallaroos World Cup debut in 2010, won sevens Olympic gold in 2016 and returned to Wallaroos duties for another World Cup last year.
If things go according to plan, she will taste more success in the coming years and a chance to play a 15-a-side World Cup in Australia could be the icing on the cake of a glittering career.
"To have the Wallaroos playing alongside the Wallabies ... that's massive. Why aren't we marketing the Wallaroos more? The Bledisloe is perfect," Williams said.
"It's about creating profiles and a legacy for female athletes on and off the field. That's what can carry the teams forward."
