Bunt is part of a 20-player squad that will play 11 matches over three weeks against the fifth-ranked Chinese team and 10th-ranked Japanese outfit.

Though she has represented Australia in indoor hockey in the past, this is a new level for Bunt in terms of her outdoor achievements.

“As far as outdoor hockey goes, this is the biggest yet,” she said.

“It is a huge stepping stone between state hockey and the national side and one that means a lot to me.

“I knew that the tour was coming up and that my name was put forward for it so I had a chance of being picked, but you never know with hockey, so it was still a nice surprise to find out my name was in the final squad.”

The tour will open on August 12 with the first of five matches against China in Dalian before the squad heads to Japan on August 20.

The Australians will then take on the hosts in three matches at Nagoya, and wrap up their trip with three more in Hiroshima.

Bunt has been a fixture in the NSW Arrows Australian Hockey League (AHL) squad in recent years, has been part of a national development squad and trained with the Hockeyroos last summer in Perth.

Of late she has spent time at the NSW Institute of Sport, and her training, combined with what she displayed during the most recent AHL, was the key to her selection for the ‘A’ team.

Now the challenge is to catch the eyes of the people that matter and bridge the final gap into the squad for the Hockeyroos, who are currently chasing Commonwealth gold in Glasgow.

“There are a lot of games on this tour, lots of travel as well, so now I just want to make sure I prepare as well as I can and get ready to perform from the opening match,” she said.

“I have to concentrate on my game. I’m in the centre-midfield, so I get a good chance to show my skills, but I’m still part of a team and you need to show coaches and selectors that you can work together with the rest of the players.

“That goes for off the field too – you need to show that you can be part of a group.

“I’ve tried to stay up and watch the Hockeyroos play, but have only been able to catch bits and pieces. 

“Most of the girls on that side are friends of mine, so I want to see them do well, but it is also hard to watch because you want to be a part of it.”

With her latest honour, Bunt knows now beyond a doubt that she is realistically within reach of being a part of that group.

“Definitely,” she said.

“As I said, you don’t know what will happen in hockey, but I feel like this has been a huge stepping stone towards that goal.

“It feels like the hard work and all the training is starting to pay off and I feel within myself that I can get there now.”