Offered a golden opportunity to shine for the Matildas, Liverpool goalkeeper Teagan Micah is determined to grab it with both hands.
Since her brilliant Tokyo Olympics campaign, Micah has had limited international opportunities due to her own battles with concussion combined with Mackenzie Arnold's rise to stardom.
But with Arnold ruled out of upcoming friendlies against Canada with an arm injury, Micah appears poised to step into the No.1 'keeping role ahead of Lydia Williams and late inclusion Jada Whyman.
"Obviously I've just played with Liverpool so that's given me a bit more confidence and this is a big opportunity against Canada," Micah said on Thursday.
"It's a top-10 nation so it is a big opportunity for myself. So I just want to get in there and get a good performance with the girls really.
"It is exciting. I just feel really good in myself right now and I think that came from a lot of the hardships I went through and just gave me a different appreciation for the game, really."
Micah had to bide her time on Merseyside after earning an off-season move to one of the world's biggest clubs.
The 26-year-old made her first Women's Super League start on the weekend, making several key saves in a 4-0 win over Brighton & Hove Albion.
"It's such a big club. So it is an honour to wear the jersey and be a part of that team and I felt good out there as well," Micah said.
"It obviously was tough getting in there and not playing and felt like I was kind of on catch-up, because I missed a lot of the pre-season with the girls.
"But I knew I just had to be patient, just keep working at it and then your opportunity will eventually come.
"My family and friends are super proud of it as well, to be able to say that I played for Liverpool.
"It's what you dream of as as a kid, really, to play for a club like that."
Australia take on Canada in Langford from 2.30pm (AEDT) on Saturday, then on December 6 in Vancouver.
Micah insisted the players hadn't been affected by reports coach Tony Gustavsson has interviewed for the vacant Sweden men's head coach role.
Gustavsson has committed to seeing through the Matildas' Paris Olympics campaign.
"It's kind of outside noise to us," Micah said.
"Tony's put his trust in us and he's also said that he's with us up until the Olympics.
"So we're just gonna have that faith and really just put our head down and focus on these games and then also qualifying.
"So that's all we can really do."
