Evolution: the process of adapting over time in response to a changing environment; a process reliant on natural selection.
Heather Payne was never in danger of missing out on selection for Vera Pauw's Republic of Ireland World Cup squad but she has had to adapt to a new task as the team heads for an environment they've never been in before.
If the Girls in Green are to catch out the big guns in Australia and New Zealand, a lot will depend on a redeployment of the Roscommon 23-year-old. It now looks certain that she'll be used as a marauding right wing-back at the tournament having soldiered, for most of Pauw's reign, as a tireless lone striker.
A triple tweak against the USA in Austin back in April [Payne at full-back, Sinead Farrelly in the middle of the park, and Kyra Carusa up top] did feel like shifting three pieces of a jigsaw puzzle into the right place. Suddenly the picture made a lot more sense.
Payne looks made for a wide berth, where her stamina and crossing ability are better utilised. Farrelly's ability to keep the ball under pressure buys the wing-backs time to break upfield, while Carusa is good at holding up play and feeding runners from midfield.
That's Pauw's vision and she'll hope it all makes sense when things kick off against the Aussies in Sydney on 20 July.
"It's a but surreal," Payne admitted ahead of Thursday's friendly against France at a sold-out Tallaght Stadium.
"I’ve been named on the squad list as a forward for the last two years and now I’m down as a defender. I’ve always played on the wing and right full-back with Florida State Seminoles so I’ve always been more comfortable playing wing-back.
"Playing in the forward role was completely new for me and I’ve had to develop over that time to take it on. Vera has found a new balance and I’m very happy where I am now. Against the USA, it worked well and I think she’s happy with it now.
"Of course, I’d play anywhere. I’ve always been a versatile player through my career. I would be happy to be anywhere on the pitch but I am a lot more comfortable on the wing. I feel I can do a lot more with the ball. I’m a lot more comfortable."
Payne has netted just once in her 34 caps but it would be unfair to judge her solely on that return. It took John Aldridge 20 games to break his duck with Ireland at at time when he couldn't stop scoring for Liverpool. Aldridge was being asked to do a very different job in a green jersey, chasing down full-backs, constantly running the channels to offer an out-ball. It was unselfish, hard work and Jack Charlton loved him for it.
Payne has regularly had to perform a similar role under Pauw.
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"Of course it is difficult when you're named as a striker and you’re not necessarily getting the goals," she admitted.
"But with the system we played people will understand that being in that striker’s role is not just about scoring goals - there is a lot of defensive work in it. As a team collectively, we can get the goals regardless of who their name is.
"And that’s the great thing I love about this team; it’s more than just one player who scores the goals. We do it as a team.
"When you always line out with five at the back it appears as if you’re super defensive. And of course you always want to have a strong structure as a defence. But with this new formation, it allows myself and Katie to get higher up the field and support Kyra Carusa, who is getting it into feet and then our two attacking midfielders can join.
"So if me and Katie and get higher up, we can cross and create chances. We’ll still have the three at the back to cover as well. It’s sound defensively but allows us to attack better."
Payne has just completed a four-year degree in dietetics at Florida State University. She's without a club currently but there'll be no shortage of suitors.
"I've just signed with an agent recently and he’s trying to figure out my options," she added.
"It’s tough to balance that with the World Cup, especially now when we’re getting so close to it. I’m trying to park all that really as it’s hard to focus on two things at once. I just want to concentrate on the World Cup.
"There have been a couple clubs interested in England. I just need to see what the best thing is for me and go from there."
Watch Republic of Ireland v France on Thursday night from 7.30pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player, follow a live blog on RTÉ.ie/Sport and the RTÉ News app or listen to live commentary on an extended Game On with 2fm
