Sydney Thunder quick Hannah Darlington is so confident in the work she did before her pre-season knee injury that she will bowl only three deliveries before returning to the WBBL.
Tipped as a future leader in the Australian team, Darlington suffered the first major injury setback of her professional career last month, damaging the meniscus in her left knee when she tripped over mid-delivery.
The timing could hardly have been more frustrating for the 20-year-old, given the Thunder's WBBL campaign begins on Friday next week.
"I was really looking forward to being out there and felt ready," she told AAP.
"It's another hurdle to jump.
"In saying that, it's a quick rehab and it's exciting that I get to do it with the group around me as well."
Darlington is so confident in her rehab going to plan, and in the strength of her pre-season, that she will bowl only three deliveries between now and when she runs out for her first game of the WBBL season in November.
She explained the light preparation would allow her to return to the fray sooner than otherwise.
"I trusted everything I did in the pre-season to not need as many (sessions) when I get back," Darlington said.
"It was a big decision to make but it gave me an extra two games if I went down that route, instead of spending time in the nets.
"The bowling coach ticked it off and we're all set to go."
In the meantime, Darlington will be focusing her energy on helping the Thunder limber up as they look to improve on last summer's seventh-placed finish.
"I've set myself a goal to look after the kids that don't head away when we travel," she said.
"We've got a bit of a travel stint to start the season so I'm going to make sure I can get them in doing some extra sessions."
Darlington will be back for the weeks before the finals and ready to stake a claim to add to her two ODI and two T20I caps.
"I was hoping to put forward a good case in the Big Bash, especially with the T20 World Cup coming up next year," she said.
"I'm really raring to get back into that T20 squad and there's still plenty of cricket to play."
