Aivi Luik poised for hard fought Matildas return

The last time Aivi Luik pulled on the Matildas jersey in a tournament was back in 2011 at the AFC Women's Olympic Qualifiers.

After the disappointment of Australia's failure for qualify for London 2012, a number of injury plagued years followed for the Melbourne City midfielder.

"There’s nothing worse than not being able to play because of an injury," said Luik of her time on the sideline.

"Sitting out, doing your rehab, going through the lows where your rehab isn’t going well and you’re not progressing."

"It’s one thing if you’re out there and you’re actually week by week doing more and progressing through that rehab program but you hit those times where it’s at a standstill, or you’re going backwards and those were the hardest times."

The injuries kept Luik out of the 2014 W-League season and, despite making a late run for the squad, hampered her chances for the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup squad.

Luik returns to the Matildas after a four year absence with injuries (Photo: Damian Briggs / Football NSW)

At her best, Luik is one of Australia's best holding midfielders.  With a clearness is in decision making and calmness on the ball, the 30 year old was on the anchor of the Melbourne City midfield that allowed the superstar names to play.

For Luik it was a relief to be healthy and get out on the park regularly.

"We had a great season going undefeated and winning the premiership and the championship."

"Doing all that with playing 90 minutes every time, besides the one game where I had a concussion, I couldn’t have asked for anything more really."

Luik's ability and her form this season didn't go unnoticed by the national team selectors and it wasn't long before she was back in camp vying for a spot on the plane to Japan.

As with many players who have taken time out from the national set up, this time round the two time W-League premiership and championship winner has savoured the experience.

"I guess I’m more experienced," she said of her Matildas return.

"It’s been four years since then [her last cap].  I’ve gotten to play with some great internationals like Kim Little and Jess Fishlock and Jen Beattie."

Luik's role within the team will most probably be interchanging as the defensive midfielder with Elise Kellond-Knight.  It is a role she played to perfection in the 2010 AFC Women's Asian Cup as the deputy to the now retired Collette McCallum and Lauren Colthorpe.

As for the Matildas quest for an Olympics berth, Luik has the same quiet confidence that is permeating throughout the squad.

"We’ve got a great squad. Every player on the team, we all believe in each other."

"We’ve prepared really well and really hard and we’ve come off the back of the W-League season so we’ve got all of that football under our belts too."

"Staj [Alen Stajcic] is drilling us each week. We’ve got what he wants from us in our head. We’re feeling fit and I think we’re ready and prepared.

"I don’t think we could really have done anything more than what we’ve done up to this point."

Australia kicks off their 2016 AFC Women's Olympic campaign against Japan on Monday, 29 February 2016.