Paul Ifill reckons he is feeling fitter and fresher after sitting out Wellington Phoenix's 2-1 win over North Queensland Fury last Friday.
A groin problem meant the Barbados international missed his first game for the Phoenix since joining the A-League club last year - a run that stretched 37 games.
"I had a bit of time to think about my game and what I haven't been doing and what I have been doing," said the 30-year-old striker.
"It came at a good time in a way, although it was a shame to stop the run because it was 37 games which is quite a lot for me."
"But I start again and come back fitter and fresher. I needed to get sharper … and a couple of weeks of hard work have helped."
That extra work is also likely to help him through a tough international schedule with the Barbados team who he will link up with following Friday's A-League clash with Gold Coast United at Skilled Park.
Barbados have games against St Kitts & Nevis, Montserrat and St Vincent/Grenadines between October 6 and 10 which act as qualifiers for the CONCACAF (Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football) Gold Cup.
Ifill though, who is one of just three professional players who will turn out for Barbados next month, is doubtful he can play all three games.
"It's three in five days which is a bit ridiculous. I don't think the gaffer (Phoenix coach Ricki Herbert) will be pleased if I play in all of them, especially with the injury. I'll have to take it a bit easier."
The Phoenix certainly won't be taking it easy on the Gold Coast as they go in search of that elusive first away win of the season.
The teams last met in round two and drew 3-3 in monsoon-like conditions in Wellington.
Goals have been hard to come by for Miron Bleiberg's men since then, especially without goal-scoring machine Shane Smeltz, who is now playing in Turkey.
Gold Coast relied on solitary goals against Perth and Newcastle Jets to win those encounters and a Bruce Djite equaliser against Sydney was enough to earn a point last weekend.
"They are missing Shane," Phoenix striker Chris Greenacre said. "He was magnificent here and at Gold Coast. When you take that many goals away from a team it's going to be a massive loss."
The Phoenix on the other hand have bagged 11 goals so far with Ifill and Greenacre leading the charge with three each.
"I've been reasonably happy with my form," said Greenacre. "I had a chance atVictory which I wish that I'd taken but apart from that I've been relatively happy."
Last Friday's opener against Fury would have been one of the easiest scores for the Yorkshireman after Justin Pasfield botched a goal kick.
"I've made a career out of those sort of goals," Greenacre joked. "It was a freak of nature really and thankfully I was ready to put it into the back of the net."
"It's built my confidence up a bit more and hopefully I can get a couple more."
Greenacre is also unconcerned about the Phoenix's form away from home. Although they have managed a record-equalling run of 23 games unbeaten at Westpac Stadium, Wellington's success on the road has been limited.
"It's playing on everyone else's mind rather than the players to be quite honest," the striker said.
"To be honest I don't really feel any pressure when I'm away from home."
"We know what we need to do to be successful and win games in this league and in fairness a couple of times away we haven't set our stall out the way we want to."
"We've shown at home that if we have a good start we can be successful. We've just got to try and produce that away from home."