After the Matildas cruised through qualification for the Paris Olympics, coach Tony Gustavsson now faces the prospect of turning some players' ecstasy into agony.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
The coach has to cut down his 22-player squad to just 18 for Paris, with only six potential international games across three windows left for players to make late auditions.
"Everyone's quite aware that the Olympics squad's a lot smaller than our regular 22, 23 player squads for competitions like this," defender Clare Hunt said.
"So it's always been cut-throat. That's the nature of the Matildas set-up, everyone's competing for a spot and everyone wants game time.
"That's the nature of the sport, and there is a competitiveness within the squad. But it's also healthy competition too. So it's great."
While plenty of the squad picks itself, the final positions will give Gustavsson some headaches.
Michelle Heyman and new San Diego Wave signing Kaitlyn Torpey both pressed their selection cases, with the latter impressive in her first call-up.
"(Torpey) is selected based on performance. She's not in here to be developed, she's in here because she's ready to train in our environment," Gustavsson said after Wednesday night's 10-0 crushing of Uzbekistan.
"In the first three days, we were very positively surprised at how quickly she adjusted to the tempo. The last time I saw a player do that that quickly was when Clare Hunt came in a year ago.
"You don't know until they come into this environment how quickly they can adjust to it, because it is a different level.
"And she did it and that's why she started."
Striker/midfielder Amy Sayer scored her first goal in Wednesday night's game, and has impressed in limited opportunities.
Chloe Logarzo and Clare Wheeler didn't play a minute of either leg against the Uzbeks, while Cortnee Vine sat out the series for personal reasons.
The Matildas boss will remain in Australia to watch some A-League Women games before returning to Europe.
Australia's next window is in April, when they will play Mexico.
"We do have some ideas of what we want to do but in terms of games it's almost limited - you have the national team days that you have and you're trying to make the most out of it," Gustavsson said.
"We always look at playing different types of opposition. We want to play away and at home.
"I'm going to use those games to check back in on the process. Where are we? What do we need to do from a core group standpoint?
"Meaning there's limited minutes to prepare the core group of players that I know is going to go to the Olympics - and they need the games - but maybe also I need to look at a few players to make decisions.
"So finding that sweet spot and that balance is going to be key."
Australian Associated Press
