Sam Kerr's Matildas teammates are determined not to put any pressure on the superstar striker to perform as they relish her return to the international stage.
But star defender Ellie Carpenter is quietly confident Kerr will be able to deliver as the Matildas start to feel both excitement and a sense of urgency less than five months out from the Asian Cup.
Kerr is set to make her long-awaited Matildas return against Wales in Cardiff on Saturday (local time) before facing European champions England in Derby four days later.
The 32-year-old last played for Australia in November 2023, having endured a 20-month rehabilitation from an ACL tear suffered in January 2024.
Carpenter has no doubts about Kerr's abilities after linking up with the striker at Super League giants Chelsea.
The 25-year-old defender moved to Chelsea in July on a four-year deal after a successful stint at 2025 Champions League semi-finalists OL Lyonnes.
"Sam's done so well. No one wants to do that injury," Carpenter said.
"Being out of the game for so long, almost two years, she's come back really strong.
"The first game for Chelsea, she scored, which I think was amazing for her - the weight lifted off her shoulders.
"In training with Chelsea, here (with the Matildas), it's been building up her momentum.
"Here with us, with the Nashville team, she can showcase a little bit more.
"Happy to have her here, happy to have her at Chelsea."
Young gun Mary Fowler is in the Matildas camp as part of her rehabilitation from a knee reconstruction.
After tearing her ACL in April, the Manchester City playmaker is hoping to play by the end of the year.
Cortnee Vine, the penalty shootout hero for Australia at the World Cup, is also in the national squad for the first time since the Paris Olympics.
"It feels like everyone's back together," Carpenter said.
"That's a massive boost to our squad. We need all our players fit and thriving come next year to have our squad at a great depth.
"As everyone knows, you need a really good squad to go deep in tournaments.
"It's very good vibes in here."
While Carpenter has closed the chapter on her Lyon stint, goalkeeper Teagan Micah is embarking on an ambitious campaign to establish herself at the French powerhouse.
Micah, after concussion briefly derailed her career, has managed to re-establish herself as first-choice goalkeeper ahead of Mackenzie Arnold.
The shotstopper is determined to keep that spot for the Asian Cup and made the switch to Lyon from Liverpool.
"That's obviously my main goal," Micah said.
"I wouldn't make any move that I didn't think would benefit my career."
At OL Lyonnes, Micah is the deputy for Chilean star Christiane Endler, one of the world's best goalkeepers.
She has already impressed in a Champions League game and is relishing training against "world class" strikers.
"It's probably, for club land, the highest possible environment that I could put myself in," Micah said.
"Training every day and being around players like that every single day, being pushed to my limit helps and hopefully I'm able to bring that onto the national team."
