It seems unthinkable that the original Matildas captain, Julie Dolan, has never been to a Women's World Cup.
The Australian footballing trailblazer, who led the national women's team in its first officially recognised outing in 1979, peaked and finished her career just before FIFA instituted the tournament in 1991.
But it's not just as a player that Dolan hasn't been to a Women's World Cup - she's not been as a spectator either.
"Really, this is my first one!" she tells AAP in Auckland ahead of Saturday night's draw.
"I have been watching the World Cups on TV. And it's been just phenomenal to see the advancement in the women's game.
"To have a World Cup on home soil is what we always dreamed of when we were playing 40-odd years ago. So the excitement level is indescribable. I'm probably more excited than anyone else."
Dolan, now 61, is part of Football Australia's contingent for the draw, taking place in 2023 co-host New Zealand.
On Friday, two-time World Cup winner Carli Lloyd was joined by former stars Dolan, Ian Wright, Geremi, Gilberto Silva and others to talk up the tournament, and on Saturday they will be joined by representatives from the 29 qualified nations for the draw.
Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson will be among those keenly awaiting their fate.
Both Australia and New Zealand are seeded, and will avoid any of the top six teams - the USA, Sweden, Germany, England and France - in the group stage.
Australia's biggest threat en route to the knockout phase will come from pot two, where one of Canada, the Netherlands, Brazil, Norway or Italy will be drawn out.
Dolan was unconcerned by the pedigree of sides that await.
"What I would like to see is that it's a challenging first round," she said.
"Not necessarily the toughest, but at least very challenging, because if you get those challenging games and a win under your belt, that's the real confidence booster.
"That gives you the momentum to get through or do better in the next rounds."
It may be inevitable the Matildas face Brazil, as they have at the last four World Cups - winning the last two.
As Dolan is quick to point out, she also squared off with Brazil in 1988, in a pilot tournament that was a precursor to the World Cup.
"And we won that one," she said.
"We were working towards what's happening now ... those days are really, really important to me and really, really special."
