THE power may be back in Sally Conway's body but this week's World Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan, will be all about the mental strength of the Edinburgh judoka.
Only five women in the world are ranked higher in her middleweight division, leaving a medal within reach in the last world championships before Rio 2016.
She was in similar shape in the build-up to last year's championships in Chelyabinsk, Russia, but her involvement lasted only a matter of seconds as she tumbled out in the first round after a self-confessed "weak attack" on her Italian opponent, Jennifer Pitzanti, came to grief.
Her mindset will be key when she steps back on to the mat on Friday. In May, her sheer willpower forged a gold medal at the Baku Grand Slam in Azerbaijan, Conway beating the Dutch world No 1 Kim Polling by ippon in the final.
Conway was unaware at the time that she was fighting with a wounded hamstring, suffered in her semi-final win over Bernadette Graf, the world number five from Austria. It is an injury that has only now healed and she feels refreshed approaching the biggest challenge of her year.
"I went in for a technique during that semi-final in Baku and went back and my opponent fell on top of me which overstretched my hamstring," the 28-year-old said. "On the day, I still had the final to fight so I think adrenaline took over I just got on with it. It wasn't until that evening, when I could hardly walk, that I wondered how I managed to get through that final.
"Luckily, I hadn't cooled down too much between the semi-final and the final and that helped. It was a bigger injury than I thought at the time - it's been hanging over me for almost three months.
"But I'm feeling really strong again and happy with how my training's been going leading into the World Championships.
"It was one of those annoying injuries where you feel you can push more but then it holds you back.
"In the gym, I've been doing hamstring strengthening exercises - my confidence on the mat now is massive compared to even a month ago. I feel I'm nearly 100 per cent now."
Before Baku, Conway picked up medals in grand prix events in Turkey and Croatia and then, on her return to Azerbaijan, there was a seventh place at the European Championships when she was not at full power.
Having been in the top eight in the world over the past 12 months, she knows she belongs in the company she is keeping in Astana and a world medal would give her added belief ahead of the Olympics.
"In my head, I have to have a clear idea of how to fight an opponent and going out with a confidence and belief that I can beat these girls," she said. "I'm up there with the best and I have to feel I have nothing to lose and everything to gain. If I can go in with that mindset, then I have a good chance."
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