Teenage sisters from the Illawarra are in Vietnam preparing to use their unspoken on-field "chemistry" to help the Young Matildas in their Under 20 Women's Asian Cup qualifying campaign.
As the Matildas prepare for their World Cup campaign at home in July, the next generation is testing their skills in the important qualifying round in Vietnam.
Jynaya Dos Santos, 17, and Indiana Dos Santos, 15, now play for Football NSW Institute but spent their junior years with Shellharbour Football Association.
The siblings have been selected as part of the 23-player Young Matildas squad for the games against hosts Vietnam, Iran and Lebanon.
Jynaya has been part of the development squad's Round 1 qualifiers and is delighted Indiana will join her for the second round.
When she's on the field with her sister, Jynaya says she feels "at home".
"We've played together for ages. We've trained together all the time," Jynaya said.
Indiana is also excited about sharing time on the field with her sister in the national jersey.
"It is just so special. As soon as you get on the field, you look at each other and smile," she said.
"Our chemistry is pretty good because we are always together. It is pretty cool.
"[We] just look at each other and … just know what we are both going to do."
There is a history of sisters taking to the field with the Young Matildas and Matildas.
The national teams have previously had the Millman sisters, Kerry and Joanne, and the Sykes twins, Ash and Nicole.
Preparing for tough contests
Jynaya's experience from March's round of qualifiers in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, means she knows what to expect for the competition in Vietnam.
She was added to the starting XI for the second game against the Kyrgyz Republic and rewarded coach Leah Blayney for her selection with a goal in the fourth minute.
The squad went on to win 7-0.
With the hot conditions of Vietnam, Jynaya welcomes the week-long chance to acclimatise and prepare for what she expects will be a tougher contest.
"I reckon it will be more physical, but I think we are up for that," she said.
Indiana isn't intimidated by the prospect of playing against women up to four years older than her.
"[They are] stronger and faster, but I am ready for it," she said.
"I can't wait to play against them because I want to go out there and win."
Blayney has encouraged both sisters to play their natural "attacking" game, play as a team, and score goals.
Sydney FC contracts
Jynaya and Indiana recently featured in Sydney FC's A-League Women premiership season.
They arrived in Vietnam just days after finding out the club was signing them each to two-year contracts.
The 2022/23 season was the sisters' debut with the Sky Blues.
Jynana took to the field in the first round, and Indiana made history by becoming the youngest on-field player in an A-League grand final.
She was 15 years and 206 days old.
Heading into the qualifiers, Jynaya said the club contracts filled them both with "confidence".
Role models as inspiration
Both sisters have pointed to another Shellharbour star as their inspiration — Matildas striker Caitlin Foord — along with national captain Sam Kerr, and Mary Fowler and Steph Catley as their favourites.
Jynaya also looks to Dutch professional and Arsenal star Vivianne Miedema: "She is just a crazy player".
Anticipation about the looming women's World Cup has given Jynaya "goosebumps".
"It is crazy that we are a part of this generation now and it is really exciting to see what will happen in the future," she said.
The Young Matildas will play three games in Vietnam, starting against Lebanon on Saturday night.
