Rear Footpeg Re-assembly Fustrations

Hi Folks -

I searched the forum and did not find anything specific. I needed to remove the right pillion footpeg to pull the exhaust.
My question is simple - is there a trick to re-assembling the footpeg w/ the detent ball assembly intact? Been trying for an hour and have simply been chasing the little ball around the garage floor. There has to be a trick to re-assembly that I have not figured out yet?

Thanks - David