The 72-year-old has been picked for the New Zealand team to play at her first golf croquet world championships since 2011, starting in Hawke's Bay next Saturday.
It will be her third world championships in golf croquet - a faster version of association croquet.
She was "excitedly nervous" for the event to start.
While her experience will likely be an advantage, she was hoping the intervening years would not count against her.
"I guess [the experience] must help a little bit, because it's a little bit familiar," she said.
"But I'm also eight years older, so I'm hoping I'm fit enough to play for a week.
"So that's where I'm a bit nervous about actually having the stamina.
"Also I'm picking it'll be quite hot up there."
In golf croquet there are four balls, two for each player, which are played in the same sequential order, with players alternating shots.
Six hoops are set out and played around clockwise, then back anti-clockwise.
The goal is to score a point by getting your ball through a hoop before your opponent.
Games are to seven and matches are the best of three games.
It makes for a faster and more active game, as there are no breaks like in association croquet.
At the world championships, players are broken down into eight blocks of seven players.
To win through to the knockout stages, a player had to make the top four of their block.
That was Sharp's goal - something she achieved in her first championships in 2009.
To make that she will have to get past competitors from seven other countries.
Egypt looms as a big threat, its players hitting the ball hard, while Australia and New Zealand both have big teams.
Now in her 18th season, Sharp is still enjoying the sport and has no plans to slow down.
She has had several joint operations since her last world championship appearance, although timed them in the off-season, another show of her commitment.
"It's brought out my competitive streak, definitely.
"That's what I enjoy, the competition.
"I find it difficult to have a friendly game, but in a nice way.
"Also it's just meeting other people and especially if you travel around to tournaments you're meeting other people.
"It is a good group, all ages from kids up to 80-year-olds.
"I like that, too - people from all walks of life."
