Lacrosse could become Australia's next Olympic medal-winning sport with the freshly introduced code for Los Angeles shaping as a genuine podium hope.
The introduction of five new sports for the Olympics will likely play into the nation's hands for 2028, with Australian officials anticipating up to 600 athletes and their biggest representation since the Sydney 2000 Olympics.
On paper, Lacrosse is not noted as being a powerhouse sport in Australia without any professional leagues.
But a glance at the sport's numbers suggests otherwise.
There are 60,000 registered participants across Australia, while the national women's team won bronze at last year's World Games and are ranked third.
Australia's men's team is ranked fourth in the world at field Lacrosse, and sixth in the world at the Sixes format that will be played at the Olympics.
Australia will have significant hurdles to clear before the Olympics though, most notably both the USA and Canada have professional leagues and are ranked No.1 and No.2 in both forms.
"But it's in our DNA (to challenge), right?" Australia women's player Olivia Parker said.
"We're gritty, we're tough, we're hard working.
"We work full-time jobs, but for lacrosse we wake up early mornings, we finish late at night because we're so passionate."
Lacrosse appeared at the 1904 and 1908 Olympics, but will be played in the newer Sixes format in 2028 with four eight-minute quarters.
The sport's inclusion comes given its popularity in north America after years of campaigning for a return.
"It's the most creative game to exist in sport," Parker said.
"Everyone around the world can fall in love with it.
"I remember watching (swimmer) Stephanie Rice winning a gold medal (in 2008) and thinking 'wow, I would love to be at the Olympics'.
"Unfortunately my sport that I played wasn't in it, but for it to be now in the Olympics it's just incredible."
Australia have won medals across 29 sports at the Olympics and will favour their chances to also add cricket to the list at Los Angeles given its return.
But a harder task awaits in the other sports.
Baseball and softball return while squash is also a new entry, however Australia doesn't have a men's or women's player ranked in the top 50.
As for fellow new entry flag football, Australia are yet to even play a match at any level with the national team's maiden appearance to come in the Oceania Cup in Kuala Lumpur next week.
"Australians are going to fall in love with this sport and we 100 per cent have the sporting talent to take down the USA in 2028," Gridiron Australia CEO Wade Kelly said.
