Scotland captain Rachel Corsie hopes altitude training in Utah can help her scale the heights of leading her country out in the finals of the World Cup next summer.
The Aberdonian, 29, insists she is the fittest she has been in years after making the move to the United States with Utah Royals.
Enjoying her football again, the Scot hopes to cap her renewed enthusiasm for the game by leading her side to a historic first appearance in the finals in France next year.
Corsie said: “Playing in Utah has certainly improved my fitness. Even walking up the stairs to my apartment is a struggle some days. It’s really helped me and this is the best I’ve felt for a long time.
“I’ve struggled with niggling injuries in the last couple of years and I wasn’t sure if I’d ever get back to feeling 100% fit and I can honestly say this year I’ve felt great.
“I’ve been playing consistently again and I’m enjoying things again. It’s something that has really improved my performance.”
The Scots complete their qualifying campaign today in Albania knowing they must better Switzerland’s result in Poland if they are to win their group and qualify.
The four best second-placed teams in the seven qualifying groups face a play-off for two additional places in France and victory today will ensure Scotland are assured of a play-off berth regardless of the Swiss result.
Corsie said: “It’s still alive and we have given ourselves the chance to get there. We’re going to keep pushing to the very end but we need a couple of results to get there.
“Switzerland are a top side and I’d be surprised if they slipped up but it’s possible in football. They made it extremely difficult for us when we went there even though they were missing their best player but it’s our job to do our job as players against Albania.”
Corsie has thrived in the added responsibility as captain of the side after being named skipper by manager Shelley Kerr at the start of the campaign.
She said: “I’d like to think Shelley identified me as captain because of the skills I’ve shown. I try my best to stay the same but my responsibility is more off-the-field and trying to ensure everyone’s voice is heard and they feel comfortable in the squad.
“It’s an added responsibility but it is something I enjoy and I have a good group of experienced players around me.”
Midfielder Caroline Weir, meanwhile, has urged her team-mates to forget events in Poland today and focus on their task at hand of beating Albania.
She said: “We’re confident we can put a good performance in and score more goals.
“All we can do is focus on ourselves. We know Albania will be tough as every away game is but we have the depth of the squad and want to put a performance in.
“We’ve got a very talented squad, experience and talented young players coming through. It’s an exciting time to be part of it and the future looks really bright.”
