As new Matildas coach Joe Montemurro begins to settle in and start planning for next year's Asian Cup, veteran Alanna Kennedy would welcome further opportunities to play in the midfield role she filled during Australia's 1-1 draw with Slovenia.
Making six changes to the side who secured a 3-0 win over the Slovenians on Thursday, Montemurro started Kennedy alongside Kyra Cooney-Cross in the middle of the park in his second game in charge on Sunday, screening centre-backs Clare Hunt and Winonah Heatley.
Though unable to match the result from earlier in the week, the Australians put in an improved performance with the ball - Kennedy's substitution coming before Mirjam Kastelec's late strike cancelled out Michelle Heyman's 50th-minute opener.
"I love playing in the midfield, I was really excited to have the opportunity to play there," Kennedy told Paramount.
"Hopefully, the first of many (games together), and I think it was a good start."
Possessing over 100 international appearances in defence, Kennedy was a midfielder as a junior and has been deployed there at a club level since making a move from Manchester City to NWSL side Angel City in January.
"I'm happy to play for Australia in any position, even if it means in goal," Kennedy said. "But I'm not gonna complain about playing in the midfield.
"I love being a defender, but I think for me, like my heart's a bit higher up the pitch and I'm happy to have the opportunity to play there."
Being able to use Kennedy in the midfield would give Montemurro another option weapon heading into next year's home Asian Cup, with Tash Prior and Jessika Nash other centre-back options called into his first squad alongside Kennedy, Hunt, and Heatley.
Left-back Steph Catley, who is absent on personal leave, has also been used centrally with the Matildas and club side Arsenal - ncluding in the latter's 1-0 win over Barcelona in the UEFA Women's Champions League final.
"When you've got a player like Alanna who protects the back two, the fullbacks can come inside and have more freedom," Montemurro said.
"The wingers have more freedom to come inside into midfield and create overloads. When you've got that stability of one player, you can create the overloads."
Kennedy is one of eight players set to depart the Matildas setup following the fixtures against Slovenia, with another eight players jetting into West Australia for games against Panama on July 5 and July 8.
