Reg Caldecott / Supplied

South Africa's Lauren Penny is based in London.

If South Africa books a place in the women's hockey tournament at the London Olympics, it will be more than a little ironic for striker Lauren Penny.

Born in Port Elizabeth and raised in Cape Town, Penny moved to England in her late teens.

Three months ago the 25-year-old entertained no thoughts of competing on sport's largest stage.

Armed with a British accent and a lethal stick, however, she has overnight become one of the SA team's most dangerous weapons.

“I was playing club hockey (in England) in December and a journalist asked me why I wasn't playing internationally,” Penny said on Friday ahead of a two-Test series against Belgium.

“I said I had never been approached, and he asked if I would be interested in playing for South Africa.

“He contacted the coach, Giles Bonnet, and before I knew it I was on a plane.

“Giles had never even seen me play before, but they took a chance, and now I might be going to the Olympics. It's been surreal.”

Penny made her debut in a five-Test series against Spain in January, and joined world record goal scorer Pietie Coetzee up front, forming a potent attack.

She still lives in England, however, and travels back and forth, managing a hectic schedule to be available for home games.

Working as a physical fitness trainer, she boards a flight on Friday to join her teammates in Johannesburg, and by Monday morning she is back at the office in London.

Facing a challenging task in New Delhi later this month, South Africa must win the qualifiers, featuring six nations, to get the nod from the SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) for the London Games.

If they make it over the final hurdle, Penny will be the only player in the team without long distance travel concerns.

“It's been like a dream, but it's also been crazy, flying all over the place,” she said.

“I live five kilometres from the Olympic Stadium, so it's around the corner from my house. That would be nice.” – Sapa