Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson has defended fielding an experimental and inexperienced starting line-up in a brutal 5-0 loss to Canada as a necessary part of building depth.
But he will turn to his strongest possible line-up in four days' time for the second game of the friendly series, after Australia suffered their heaviest defeat since the 7-0 humiliation to Spain in June 2022.
Nichelle Prince scored a first-half brace, in the 10th and 43rd minutes, with Cloe Lacasse netting in the 49th, Simi Awujo icing the game six minutes later and Adriana Leon completing the rout in the 62nd.
