England opener Mark Stoneman admits it has been a frustrating tour with the bat but is fired up to impress in the final Ashes Test in Sydney.
Stoneman has the chance to live out a dream which took hold in 2007 on his first visit to the SCG to watch England in the Ashes.
He was still a teenager then, yet to make his professional debut, and despite witnessing a 5-0 whitewash, the 30-year-old from Newcastle upon Tyne dreamt then of playing in the city for his country.
In the intervening years, Stoneman has returned several times to Sydney for stints with Bankstown and other clubs, met his wife Serene and made many friends here - before more recently upping sticks from Durham and heading to Surrey.
"As much you try to take each game as it comes, it was always going to be the icing of the tour on a personal note, to come back to Sydney, where I've spent a lot of time," said Stoneman, who will pick up his eighth Test cap in five months.
"I've got a lot of friends and family, and it's something I'm very much looking forward to."
As England try to stave off a 4-0 defeat in the fifth and final Test, starting Thursday, Stoneman is desperate to end the tour on a high note having had something of a "nearly" tour this winter, by his own admission.
He was in reflective mood in the press conference on Tuesday and is remaining calm despite the added emotional pressure.
"It's been a long and winding road, but looking back I wouldn't have had it any other way," added Stoneman who has scored two fifties in Australia with an average of just under 30.
"You take your game in various directions, and Sydney's been a massive part of that. I met my wife out here, and she's been a fantastic support as well - especially when things got a bit tough back home with the move down to Surrey.
"She's always been 100 per cent behind me, and that's played a big part at times when things aren't going as well as you'd like.
"The first Test at the Gabba was up there in terms of hairs on the back of the neck, going through the anthems.
"But the rest of it's been great fun - I don't think you can have as much fun playing cricket as you do playing for your country in the Ashes."