Josh Holmes will run out for Australia in the HSBC Singapore 7s this weekend, having taken quite a journey since last previously wearing the green and gold.
Holmes played for the Thunderbolts in 2007, since when he's suited up for New South Wales Waratahs, Western Force, the Brumbies and Melbourne Rebels in Super Rugby; Bourgoin in France; Warringah in Sydney's Shute Shield, and North Harbour Rays in the National Rugby Championship.
He's also starred for Warringah on the club Sevens circuit in Australia, impressing Thunderbolts coach Andy Friend, with whom he worked at the Brumbies.
"Andy Friend has been watching some of the Sydney tournaments, and we caught up and he invited me down for training and it's gone from there," Holmes told ESPN of his international recall.
Holmes has been training with the squad for one month, with Friend describing him as having been "a form player on the local circuit for quite a while now".
"It's been a very long time between drinks but I'm pretty excited to play again in Singapore," Holmes told ESPN.
"I've been playing a lot of national competitions in Australia for the past four years so I'm definitely up to scratch with playing the game; I've been playing a lot of tournaments.
Friend noted earlier in the week that Holmes had been selected because he wanted a genuine scrum-half in the squad, while the half-back told ESPN that he wanted to "bring my own game to the team".
"It's a pretty open game, Sevens, so wherever you are on the field, it doesn't matter what position you play, anything can happen and you have to be prepared for anything.
"But I like to attack, I like to get the ball in my hands."
Australia have been in good form on the HSBC Sevens World Series since Friend assumed the reins, finishing runner's up in Sydney and Las Vegas; third in Vancouver, beating Fiji in the play-off; and fourth in Hong Kong.
"The boys are training pretty hard and they're pretty consistent in training and recovering and what they do through the week to get themselves ready," Holmes said. "Their consistency's been pretty good this season; if they keep doing that and improve a few little things on the field they can hopefully get to the next level in the last three comps of the season" in Singapore, Paris and London.
"They're not too far from lifting a trophy. There's always little areas you can work on, and they're being mentioned, and we'll look to improve those."
Holmes understands he has an opportunity to press an Olympic claim that would not have been even a dream two months ago. He understands, equally, that Australia's 10 players sidelined through injury are more likely to compete for an Olympic berth, and he's looking only as far as Singapore.
I've got one job to do, and that's to play well for my country in Singapore," he told ESPN.
"I feel really privileged to play for my country again.
"At the moment, that's my only thought process; making sure that when I wear the jersey again I do it proud. I just want to get through this weekend and then take the next hurdle as and when I get there."