Matildas coach Joe Montemurro insists he's not gambling on Mary Fowler's fitness after including the game-breaker in a 26-strong squad for the Women's Asian Cup.
Fowler is returning to a Matildas squad for the first time since April last year when she required a knee reconstruction.
The dynamo has played just 15 minutes for her club, Manchester City, since her injury.
But Montemurro dismisses concern over the precocious 23-year-old ahead of Australia's cup campaign which opens on March 1 against the Philippines in Perth.
"It was important that we managed, obviously with Manchester City, her return," Montemurro told reporters in Sydney on Thursday.
"It was actually really, really structured ... we had a think at about nine months (of) returning but she was great and said she would like a little bit more time coming back.
"But she has been training with the (City) squad now for a couple of months and playing some minutes.
"She's ready to go and she's in good shape."
Sam Kerr will captain the Matildas at her fifth Asian Cup, with Steph Catley and Ellie Carpenter her vice-captains as the Australians seek a second cup win, following the nation's 2010 triumph.
"There's something in Sam's voice ... there's a buzz in the air when you speak to her," Montemurro said.
Fellow stalwarts including Alanna Kennedy, Caitlin Foord, Hayley Raso, Katrina Gorry, Clare Hunt, Mackenzie Arnold, Kyra Cooney-Cross and Emily van Egmond underpin the squad.
The Asian Cup and next year's World Cup in Brazil loom as among the last major global tournaments for the bulk of the mainstays, most of whom featured in the 2023 World Cup in Australia.
But Montemurro said selecting eight players for their first Asian Cup - Hunt, Winonah Heatley, Kahli Johnson, Jamilla Rankin, Charlize Rule, Amy Sayer, Kaitlyn Torpey and Jada Whyman - was significant.
"To have the amount of players making their first appearance in tournaments, but also now stabilising the future for us going forward, is really, really important," he said.
"They're top talents. They're playing at good clubs. They're coming in with great form."
The eight Asian Cup newcomers weren't picked solely to add depth.
"There will be a little bit of rotation ... no-one is coming in as squad depth," he said.
"Everyone is coming in for a reason and will be called upon.
"There will be situations where players will get minimal minutes, but we know that they're going to be important from a training stimulus and also from a group stimulus.
"A tournament of this nature - and we've seen many tournaments, whether it's the men's World Cup, women's World Cup - brings up a lot of surprises."
After the tournament-opener against the Philippines, the Matildas have group games against Iran (Gold Coast, March 5) and South Korea (Sydney, March 8).
Australia's squad:
Sam Kerr (capt), Mackenzie Arnold, Ellie Carpenter, Steph Catley, Alex Chidiac, Kyra Cooney-Cross, Caitlin Foord, Mary Fowler, Katrina Gorry, Winonah Heatley, Michelle Heyman, Clare Hunt, Kahli Johnson, Alanna Kennedy, Holly McNamara, Teagan Micah, Courtney Nevin, Jamilla Rankin, Hayley Raso, Charlize Rule, Amy Sayer, Remy Siemsen, Kaitlyn Torpey, Emily van Egmond, Clare Wheeler, Jada Whyman.
