Canberra cricket export Nick Winter can still remember the night South Australia came calling.
It was during an Eastlake cricket club presentation night that Tim Nielsen called to offer the promising young quick a rookie contract with the Redbacks for the 2013-14 season.
Now he wants to use his Big Bash League deal with the Adelaide Strikers to finally break the shackles and cement a spot at the top level.
The 24-year-old was officially unveiled as a Striker alongside bowlers David Grant and Michael Cormack, and all-rounder Daniel Drew on Tuesday.
Injury and inconsistency threatened to derail his dream when he lost his state deal last year, but he has since fought his way back into the Redbacks squad on a full-time contract.
Winter says he didn't change a thing but he's keen to ride the wave into what he hopes will be a sold-out Adelaide Oval against the Sydney Thunder on December 22.
"After last year getting delisted with the Redbacks, it was a pretty tough time," Winter said.
"I had the Renegades contract last year but I knew that was up as well at the end of the season so to get the Strikers deal as well as the Redbacks deal, it's been a good little turnaround for me.
"I think the way cricket is, it's pretty cliche but it's one of those games where everything jumps on top of you when you're down, and when you're going well everything goes right.
"South Australia obviously got me across for a reason. They saw potential in me and they thought I was good enough.
"I just was able to show that last year especially in the Futures League. I felt, without wanting to sound arrogant, I stood out and I was deserving of a full contract.
"They obviously thought so as well. I don't think anyone really changed, I think another year in the system and another year of me getting better as a player, it just came to fruition on the field."
He is joined in Adelaide by his former ACT Comets teammate Jono Dean, who is eyeing a contract extension having become a part of the furniture in the city of churches.
Winter fondly recalls Eastlake versus Queanbeyan [Dean's former club] matches used to turn into "Winter versus Dean" battles and hopes they will be able to create a historic moment for Canberra when they suit up together.
It would be Winter's second claim to fame in the BBL, right up there with the time he bowled two dot balls to English superstar Kevin Pietersen.
Winter played four games for South Australia in this season's domestic one-day competition and his goal is to earn a prized baggy red cap.
He's got a trio of experienced quicks to learn from at the Strikers in Peter Siddle, Ben Laughlin and Michael Neser.
Winter jokes he and Siddle have been "chasing each other around", having spent three seasons at the Renegades together.
While it looms as a tough side to break into, an expanded fixture has Winter eyeing a breakthrough opportunity with the window for further squad rotations opening up.
"Longer term, I'd have to be realistic and say that it still hurts me that I haven't made my first class debut yet," Winter said.
"I've been in the squad for four or five years, been in the Shield squad a couple of times and missed out as the 12th man.
"It would be really nice to finish the season having debuted for both the Adelaide Strikers and to have earned myself a red South Australian baggy, so that's my goal."
CANBERRA'S BIG BASH LEAGUE CONNECTION
Aiden Blizzard - Sydney Thunder
Jason Behrendorff - Perth Scorchers
Nathan Lyon - Sydney Sixers
Jono Dean - Adelaide Strikers
Nick Winter - Adelaide Strikers
Alex Ross - Brisbane Heat
Jason Floros - Brisbane Heat
Tom Rogers - Hobart Hurricanes
