All eyes will be on Mary Fowler ahead of the Matildas’ Women’s World Cup clash with Nigeria after the young gun suffered a knock at training.
Fowler is due to line up alongside Caitlin Foord in attack against Nigeria as Australia manoeuvres through life without injured skipper Sam Kerr.
Tuesday’s training was closed to media but host broadcasters Optus Sport was originally due to interview Fowler.
But it was instead told by Football Australia that Fowler had suffered a knock late in the session and required a precautionary assessment.
FA later allayed fears over Fowler’s condition, saying she was “all good”.
But there will clearly be a watch on the 20-year-old in Wednesday morning’s final session before Thursday’s game at Suncorp Stadium.
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Star forward Foord, meanwhile, insisted Kerr’s calf injury, suffered a day out from the opening 1-0 win over Ireland, won’t derail her entire campaign.
“She’s just doing everything possible to be in the best condition for when she does step back on the pitch,” Foord told Optus Sport.
“She’ll definitely be back this tournament.”
As the only team in Group B with three points from its opening game, Australia can seal progression to the knockout stages with victory over Nigeria, which has one point.
If Canada (one point) and Ireland (zero points) draw in Perth on Wednesday night, a win would lock in top spot for the Matildas before their third group game.
The Matildas last played Nigeria at the 2015 Women’s World Cup.
On that day, in Winnipeg, Canada, Kyah Simon scored both goals in a 2-0 group-stage win.
Kerr provided an assist for the second goal and copped an elbow to the face off the ball from Ugo Njoku that drew a three-game retrospective ban.
“A tough, tough game, I remember,” midfielder Katrina Gorry said.
“I watched them play Canada and they’re even more powerful than they were then.
“They’ve got so much speed but a lot of class across the field. (They’re) technically very good.
“If you’re not on your defensive game, they’ll exploit you and with the pace they have, it’s pretty scary.”
Tameka Yallop has recovered from a corked thigh to press her selection case.
“It’ll be a very different game from 2015, but they still have all those qualities that they had before,” she said.
“There’s a little bit of unpredictability to them, which does make it a little bit difficult. But at the same time we’ve trained for that as well in our prep.
“It’s just about being focused in every moment against them.”
Ireland sat back and defended deep against Australia.
After drawing 0-0 with Canada first up, Nigeria may need to open up to chase three points.
That would suit Australia fine.
“It’s going to be another second-ball game and hitting them on transition. They obviously put a lot of numbers forward,” Gorry said.
“So if we can try and hit them on transition, I think we’ll give them a tough time.”
-AAP
