Aussie Sevens co-captain Shannon Parry is one step closer to a World Series return after an injury-ravaged 2018-19 campaign to this point.
Parry has travelled with the team as a 13th player, in what could be her first World Series appearance since October’s Glendale Sevens.
Parry has battled ankle and shoulder injuries in recent months but looks to have turned a corner in her recovery.
The 13th player was listed as TBC when the squad was initially named last week, pending Parry's fitness but the Aussie Sevens staff are confident the forward would be fit enough to play should she be required in the Canadian tournament.
Parry’s return would only come should there be an injury to one of the starting 12 but given the Aussies’ luck this season, there is a high likelihood that she would be called on.
The powerful forward has been sorely missed by Australia, whose defence has been inconsistent this season against some physically intimidating opponents.
It’s been a patchy season for the Aussies, who finished sixth in their last tournament, but a jersey presentation from Wallabies coach Michael Cheika was a timely reminder of the privileged position they are in."
Co-captain Sharni Williams said his presentation gave them plenty of extra motivation before they left for Canada.
“It's about looking within yourself - that jersey's really special and not a lot of people get to wear the jersey,” she told World Rugby.
“Coming from Michael Cheika, who's the coach of the Wallabies and never been able to don a (national) jersey, it was a really important message that this doesn't last forever and you need to live in the moment and live in the now.”
Australia currently sits fourth in the World Series with two legs to go, 10 points clear of a rapidly-improving France side.
Williams admitted this weekend’s tournament would be a “do-or-die” for the side.
“It's huge -this tournament is do or die talk,” she said.
“France sitting below us with 10 points and we need to stay in front of them and put in a good performance.
“It's about us and us coming out to perform, really focusing on what we can do."
The top four teams at the end of the season automatically qualify for the Tokyo Olympics, with the rest forced into regional qualifiers.
The Canada Sevens kicks off on Sunday May 12, AEST, with day one LIVE on worldrugby.org.
FIXTURES
Sunday May 12. All times AEST.
Australia vs Ireland, 4:06am
Australia vs Brazil, 6:50am
Australia vs Canada, 9:56am
