Brisbane midfielder Katrina Gorry says her young daughter Harper is the reason she keeps playing, and she also has plenty to play for.
The 30-year-old Matildas star, with 88 international caps to her credit, wants to lift the Roar to another premiership in this year's A-League Women competition and has targeted playing in her third World Cup, co-hosted next year by Australia and New Zealand.
The Matildas will be based in Brisbane for the tournament's duration and train at the Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre (QSAC), where Gorry spoke to AAP before Brisbane training on Thursday.
The sixth-placed Roar play the Jets, ninth on the ALW ladder, in Newcastle on Friday night. For Gorry, who played her juniors a few kilometres away from where she was speaking, next year's World Cup is a beacon.
"To be based anywhere in Brisbane for a World Cup is pretty special, but with me growing up just down the road at the Mt Gravatt Hawks makes it more special," Gorry said.
"I spent a lot of time here when I was a junior. A lot of the girls I looked up to trained here (at Queensland Academy of Sport) with me so it is definitely very special for us."
Gorry's daughter Harper was born in August last year. She had almost two years out of the international set-up as being a mum was her focus. Gorry was brought straight back into the Matildas side in April this year after a strong ALW season with the Roar.
"My daughter is always my priority and the reason I keep playing," Gorry said.
"She definitely brings a lot of happiness into camp and puts football and life into perspective.
"To bring her and also my mum (Linda) along on the journey has been amazing so far. I really can't wait for the World Cup. The next few camps leading in are going to be pretty amazing."
Gorry took a month off at the start of the ALW season and her return last week coincided with a 1-0 home win over Western Sydney.
"Coming back from having Harper the last year was pretty much go, go, go with the Roar season and over to Sweden (with Vittsjo GIK) and international games in between," Gorry said.
"It was nice to have some down time, enjoy a proper holiday and spend time with my family.
"We have pretty much the same core group at the Roar as last year ... and I am hopeful we are contenders for the final and lift the trophy. It has been a while since I have done that, and it would nice to do it with this group."
