Injured sevens superstar Charlotte Caslick and Wallaroos skipper Siokapesi Palu are racing the clock to play in the Women's Rugby World Cup in England after being included in the Australian squad.
Olympic gold medal winner Caslick, who switched from sevens this year with the ambition of playing in her first 15-a-side World Cup, underwent ankle surgery last month while Palu remains in a moon-boot, the pair having suffered injuries playing against New Zealand.
Naming a 32-player squad including 15 World Cup debutants, coach Jo Yapp was hopeful the key duo would be available for one or more pool games as the world No.8 Australians open their tournament in Salford on August 23 (9pm AEST).
"They're currently still on track and we know it's a tight timeline but the plan is that they will be coming out to the World Cup and being a part of that," Yapp said on Monday in Sydney.
"We have two players ready and on stand-by if they don't make the timelines they're currently on.
"They're currently in twice a day getting rehab, and that's the plan for the next week and then we will make a decision on what point they come out and join us."
Defending Super Rugby Women's champions the NSW Waratahs will be represented by 13 players, while the ACT Brumbies have eight representatives, Queensland six, with five from Western Force.
Teenage sensation Waiaria Ellis, 17, could become the youngest Wallaroo to play at a World Cup after being included in the youthful squad, which has an average age of 26.
Veterans Ash Marsters and Trilleen Pomare, who both recently passed 40 Test appearances, will add some much-needed experience in their third tournament as the Wallaroos bid to improve on a quarter-final showing at the last edition in 2021.
Uncapped Reds winger Caitlin Urwin has been included after impressing for Australia A. However, there was no room for out-of-favour Waratahs playmaker Arabella McKenzie.
Lock Annabelle Codey is set to follow in her father David Codey's footsteps in playing at a World Cup, while Katalina Amosa, the sister of Wallaby Brandon Paenga-Amosa, is one of three hookers named.
"We are very proud of the squad and the journey the players and staff have been on for the past two years to get to this point," said Yapp, who will step away from her role after the tournament.
"The depth that we've grown has really put us in a good place and there was some tough selection choices but where we've landed, we're really happy.
"It's a tough pool and it's really important that we want to get out of that pool and give ourselves the best chance in the knock-outs."
The tournament is set to be the biggest-ever women's rugby event, with more than 300,000 tickets sold.
Following Samoa, the Wallaroos take on USA on August 31 and top-ranked tournament hosts England on September 6 to complete their pool matches.
WALLAROOS SQUAD: Katalina Amosa, Bree-Anna Browne, Charlotte Caslick, Emily Chancellor, Annabelle Codey, Lori Cramer, Piper Duck, Waiaria Ellis, Ashley Fernandez, Georgina Friedrichs, Caitlyn Halse, Tia Hinds, Brianna Hoy, Asoiva Karpani, Lydia Kavoa, Kaitlan Leaney, Michaela Leonard, Ashley Marsters, Desiree Miller, Faitala Moleka, Layne Morgan, Tania Naden, Bridie O'Gorman, Siokapesi Palu, Faliki Pohiva, Trilleen Pomare, Cecilia Smith, Maya Stewart, Adiana Talakai, Tabua Tuinakauvadra, Caitlin Urwin, Samantha Wood.
