Rising star Amy Sayer says missing selection for Australia's dream Women's World Cup campaign only made her more driven to develop her game and cement a place in the Matildas side.
Sayer was part of the Matildas' wider outfit preparing for this July's World Cup, but there was no space for her in the final squad.
After the selection heartbreak, the 21-year-old decided to leave her studies at Stanford University in the U.S. to join Swedish first-division outfit Kristianstads DFF, and she was recently selected for the Matildas' three Olympic qualifiers in Perth.
Sayers started in the 2-0 win over Iran, and almost scored off the bench in the 8-0 romp over the Philippines.
The speedy attacker says she has no hard feelings about missing out on the World Cup squad.
"I know that Tony [Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson] selected the best team and the best team got us to the highest ranked position we've ever gotten in a World Cup," Sayer said on Monday.
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"Being that close [to selection] and being that close to the team in the lead-up to the World Cup did add fuel to a fire that was already burning pretty high.
"I was in the midst of deciding to graduate from Stanford a bit early. But it [missing selection] really cemented my decision. It's not a decision that I regret leaving a year early and not playing my senior season, because it's pushed me to take a leap and go to Sweden.
"I think I'm starting to play my best football."
Sayer has played eight times for the Matildas but is yet to score. She's come close to breaking through on numerous occasions and hopes she'll finally score against Chinese Taipei at HBF Park on Wednesday night. As for how she'll celebrate?
"I want to say that I'll look really good doing it and I'll take a lap around the field and wave to the fans, hug everyone," Sayer said with a laugh. "But usually [when I score] it's a shock and I'm jumping or something like that."
Sayer says her favourite position is as an attacking midfielder, but she also enjoys the striker role. She praised the way higher-profile teammates had welcomed her into the Matildas setup.
"It's a family and they open their arms to new family members," she said. "Having the focus on people like Sam [Kerr] and Macca [Mackenzie Arnold] and Caitlin [Foord] means it's easier for me to go to the supermarket and not get recognised.
"Maybe in the future I'll get mobbed going for a coffee or something."