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THREE months out of the game has done little to derail Stephanie Kershaw’s ambitions for Olympic gold.

If anything it has only made her drive more palpable.

The Townsville hockey star was finally able to resume training with the Hockeyroos and the competitive edge that has them steeled for a shot at Tokyo glory was still there.

It never stopped, Kershaw said, as the prized goal continued to burn in each players mind.

Given the squad are based in Perth, the national sides have been able to operate under different COVID-19 guidelines than the rest of the country. While Queensland will have to wait until July to resume contact sport, Kershaw and her teammates have just begun that phase after two weeks of largely fitness and skills testing.