The Matildas take on New Zealand today in their second friendly in three days, with Australia aiming to keep its 18-year unbeaten record intact against the Football Ferns.
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Pride is at stake for the Matildas against our Olympic-bound neighbours, but also on the line are spots in the Australian squad to play Japan in Tokyo on July 11.
The young Matildas side registered a 1-1 draw in Sunday's match against the Ferns and want to go one better.
Canberra United's Hayley Raso pulled on the green and gold for the first time in Sunday's draw, and almost had a dream debut for the national side.
''We were down 1-0 and there wasn't long left when I got a good pass from Ellyse Perry, I thought I'd take the chance and have a shot,'' Raso said.
Only a diving save from the Kiwi keeper put a halt to Raso's heroics, with Thea Slayter scoring the leveller with a header in the 93rd minute
''It was such an amazing experience, I didn't think I'd play but I got a good 30-minute run,'' Raso said.
With a squad missing 20 players to international playing commitments and injuries, coach Tom Sermanni is viewing these friendlies as a chance to cast his eye over up-and-coming players such as Raso.
''Obviously when you play internationals winning is important, but in this case it's more about giving opportunities to players who might not otherwise get opportunities if all our players were available,'' Sermanni said. ''In a sense it's a starting point for 2015 World Cup campaign.''
The Matildas will miss out on the home-ground advantage, which came with the big crowd in Wollongong on Sunday, with today's lunchtime game being a closed one.
''It's just a practical and financial reality,'' Sermanni said. ''Once we make it an official game we make it a considerably more expensive exercise.''
Sermanni will name his squad to take on Japan at the start of July, and expects up to eight overseas players to be available.
