Questions over Sam Kerr's fitness will dominate Australia's Women's World Cup campaign after the Matildas showed how difficult life could be without their superstar skipper.
Kerr was a shock scratching from Thursday night's nervy and frustrating 1-0 win against a spirited Ireland side at Stadium Australia with a calf complaint.
Stand-in captain Steph Catley scored her side's only goal with a second-half penalty.
The injury will rule Kerr out of the Matildas' second group B game against Nigeria on July 27, with Football Australia saying she would be assessed before their final group match with Canada.
For so long the Matildas have relied on Kerr to come up with the clutch moment but on the night they needed her leadership and cutting edge, the Chelsea forward wasn't there.
Coach Tony Gustavsson has spent the past three years of his tenure speaking of the need to build a supporting cast around Kerr.
Gustavsson kept Kerr's injury in-house until shortly before the match and opted for Mary Fowler to fill the void up front.
But without their talismanic leader, Australia struggled for direction.
They were skittish on the ball, wasteful in possession and while they dominated territory they couldn't find a cutting edge.
Caitlin Foord, who led the line in Kerr's absence, didn't come into the game until late in the first half when she began to drop deep.
Foord had an effort blocked and another rippled the side-netting but it felt like she was clutching at her chances.
Fowler shadowed Foord but the pair were unable to light the fuse and Ireland's deep-sitting back five snuffed out most of their openings with relative ease.
The Irish were willing to get stuck in with their captain Katie McCabe getting the better of Hayley Raso in a running battle down Australia's right.
Australia resorted to long-ball tactics and Ireland were too savvy to deal with it.
It was only when Raso was fouled in the Irish box in the 52nd minute and Catley whacked away a penalty that nerves settled.
Australia play Nigeria next week before a meeting with Canada on July 31 that will likely to decide who tops the group.
Whether Kerr is there or not, will dominate headlines for the next 10 days.
