The Matildas take on Chinese Taipei in their third Olympic qualifier on Wednesday night in Perth (10pm AEDT).
Australia currently tops its group following a thumping 8-0 win over the Philippines on Sunday, but the stakes remain just as high heading into their final group stage clash.
“It’s obviously really important,” Matildas star Steph Catley said.
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“The main focus for us is to qualify and to put ourselves in the best position we can to get into the further rounds and to get into the Olympics.
“Obviously the performances are really important, the way that we play is important and that’s always important to us, but winning as at the top of the agenda.”
The three fixtures this week are part of the 2024 AFC Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament, and here’s how they tie into the overall path to Paris 2024.
Who else is in the Matildas group?
The Matildas are currently in the second round of the qualifying stage as one of five teams to automatically qualify for the second round along with North Korea, Japan, China and South Korea.
There are three different groups in the second round, with Australia joined in Group A by the Philippines, Iran and Chinese Taipei.
Australia currently leads Group A with six points and a goal difference of +10 after a 2-0 win over Iran and the demolition job of the Philippines (currently second with three points and a goal difference of -5).
Group B features South Korea, North Korea, China and Thailand, while Group C has Japan, Vietnam, Uzbekistan and India.
What happens in the next round?
The third round will feature the three group winners and the best performing group runners-up from the second round, making goal-difference important heading into the final match.
As it stands, Australia will be joined by South Korea and Japan, who are leading their respective groups. North Korea is poised to be the fourth team to enter the third round, currently leading the runners-up ahead of Vietnam and the Philippines.
It is yet to be decided who will face who in the third round, and Catley admitted that it’s been “tricky” to figure out who the Matildas might face next.
”There’s obviously so many ways it can go depending on results,” she said.
“We’ve been keeping an eye on it, I know (coach) Tony (Gustavsson) has, and he’s been trying to update us a little bit.
“The main focus is on what we’re doing and we’re obviously confident (against) whoever we come up against.
“The task at hand is to make sure we get through to those rounds and do everything we can to put ourselves in the best position and then whoever we’ll get, we’ll get.”
The third round fixtures will be in the form of a two-legged clash, one home match and one away match, with fixtures to take place on February 24 and February 28, 2024.
What happens after the third round?
The two teams that win the two-legged ties in the third round will qualify for Paris 2024 as the two teams representing the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).