The 27-year-old flanker captained the Wallabies to victory against Wales in July last year before being cruelled by what was his eighth major injury in six years.
After a full Super Rugby season in 2024, he was convinced he'd done everything needed to stay on the field, so it was a massive blow.
"It felt like a heavy fall from grace," Wright said.
"You reach that pinnacle of being able to represent your country again after a long absence and ... to have it taken away again made this one really hurt.
"I'm just going to enjoy being back on the field again for all the minutes I get and keep working my way back to that same picture and go again."
"It's exciting, I'm looking forward to this (Saturday night in Perth). It's been a real journey this one, plenty happened in between it, so I'm just keen to get some footy under my belt again and get back with the team."
When Wright says it was a journey, it is no understatement.
"We don't really know what the underlying cause or symptoms of everything was," he said.
"We tried bicep tenotomies, we tried cortisones, we tried different stuff in the AC and the actual shoulder joint, all sorts of various improvements, but then any slight knock would just send it straight back.
"Eventually I decided surgery was the route to go, and to do the best of both worlds - do the latarjet repair and an AC repair as well.
"We weren't really sure which one would hit the nail on the head, but we figured by doing both we probably couldn't miss.
"Even post-surgery there were just a couple dilations in there just to expand the capsule a little bit and make sure we can get the range back and the strength back. It's been some good weeks and some bad weeks in rehab, but I'm feeling really good and just excited to play some rugby."
The Reds have made several forced changes from the side that beat Moana Pasifika.
Former Crusaders flyer Heremaia Murray comes in at fullback for Jock Campbell (arm), and Dre Pakeho is in for the suspended Hunter Paisami.
The Force are undefeated and Wright said he was expecting a titanic struggle.
"It's a huge challenge. We found it tough to go over there last year," he said.
"They play with a lot of gusto and they're ready to go. They stick their head into a lot of rucks and make it a tough game for you."
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