Jacob Stockdale wants to show Ireland boss Andy Farrell that he is worthy of playing at the Rugby World Cup later this year.
Stockdale, 26, was included in the extended squad for all five of Ireland's Six Nations games but didn't make the matchday panel for any of them.
The Ulsterman's last appearance at Test level came against Japan in the 2021 summer series.
READ MORE: Player by player run down: How Ireland's Grand Slam squad fared
Prior to that, Stockdale was a fixture in Ireland teams and squads, racking up 19 tries in 35 appearances - and he was the top try scorer in the 2018 Grand Slam success.
However it was in the autumn of 2021 that he sustained a serious ankle injury and it took him the back three specialist a year to come back from that setback - and it wasn't long before he was sidelined again.
“That was the toughest year I have had as a player," Stockdale acknowledged. "It was incredibly frustrating because it was a pretty unusual injury and not many people have rehabbed it or experienced it.
“Then I came back for a couple of games and injured my other ankle, so I would say 2022 as a whole was a pretty frustrating year for me.
“Outside of rugby though it was brilliant. I got married and had a baby. My daughter is eight months old now. My life has changed incredibly with becoming a dad, a lot more than I expected it to.”
The Armagh man slowly and surely worked his way back to full fitness and, rediscovering his form, he scored his first competitive try in two years when he touched down against Cardiff during a last down week in this year's Six Nations.
Farrell saw enough to include him in Ireland's championship plans and, while he didn't see any competitive action during the Grand Slam winning march, Stockdale believes he can convince Ireland's management with his performances for Ulster at the business end of the BKT URC and Champions Cup campaigns.
The process starts on Saturday night as Stockdale is available to Dan McFarland for the visit of the Bulls to Kingspan Park on Saturday. If he plays, it will be his first time playing against South African club opposition.
Stockdale knows he is going to have to perform at a consistently high level. Ireland's back three of Hugo Keenan, James Lowe and Mack Hansen were outstanding throughout the Six Nations.
Jimmy O'Brien and Jordan Larmour are snapping at their heels and veteran Keith Earls would have been a part of the squad but for injury - while Stockdale's Ulster colleague Michael Lowry missed out but will also be eager to press his claim before the summer break.
“The lads have been flying, performing really, really well," he said. "I suppose it’s not necessarily a bad thing that you can’t get into the number one team in the world!
“It’s an exciting place to be in that squad. I am very appreciative to Andy Farrell for giving me the opportunity to be there and trusting in me.
“I just want to show what I can do in an Ulster jersey over the next couple of months to try and get back into that green jersey come the World Cup.
“I am a lot tougher now than I was a couple of years ago and I think that’s only going to benefit me moving forward. I am feeling good and excited for what the next couple of years hold. There’s lots for me to aim for.”
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