Shipard has been named in a squad of 20 for tomorrow night's international friendly against New Zealand at North Harbour Stadium in Albany.

The appearance will cap off an amazing turnaround in Shipard's career after she gave the game away in September 2008.

She set off around the world after losing her passion for the sport but has since rediscovered the reasons why she loved the game.

The 22-year-old has been training with W-League club Canberra United for the past five months but was unable to play due to a contract bungle with a Spanish futsal club.

It means her first professional football game back will be for Australia.

Shipard yesterday flew out to New Zealand with the squad and said she couldn't wait to make her return appearance.

"It seems to have caught everyone by surprise but I've been in serious training for four or five months now," Shipard said yesterday.

"I didn't anticipate being straight back in the national side but I'm looking forward to it."

Shipard took all before her as a rising football star and was the country's youngest-ever Olympic football representative when she represented Australia at the Athens Games in 2004.

She captained the Young Matildas and also represented Australia at the Women's World Cup in China.

Shipard said she was excited about her return.

"I retired a midfielder and have come back a full-back which will be interesting," Shipard said.

"We've got a very young squad we're working with and plenty of things coming up so it should be good."

After two friendlies in New Zealand, the Matildas will travel to Queensland where they will take on North Korea.

The Matildas are currently in preparation for their 2010 Asia Cup campaign in China in May, which will be a qualifier for the Women's World Cup in 2011 in Germany.