As Australian football continues to dissect the Matildas' calamitous early exit from the Asian Cup, several senior players are already back with their clubs and have turned their attention to the silverware still within their grasp.
Despite missing almost a month's worth of games due to international duty, captain Sam Kerr returned to Chelsea still leading the Women's Super League Golden Boot race with nine goals.
While the striker came under fire for missing a handful of easy chances in the South Korea game, her first game back with Chelsea last weekend was a reminder that Kerr is just as influential in the build-up to goals as she is in scoring them, with her slicing run and fizzing cross-field pass setting up Chelsea's winning goal against Manchester City last Sunday.
Her Australia teammates Alanna Kennedy and Hayley Raso were on the bench for City but neither made an appearance in their 1-0 defeat to the reigning champions.
The win puts Chelsea within touching distance of leaders Arsenal, who were held to a 1-1 draw against third-placed Manchester United last Saturday.
United were on the score-sheet early through young striker Alessia Russo, who slammed home a header in the 10th minute.
Arsenal had a handful of chances saved brilliantly by United goalkeeper Mary Earps, but it was new Swedish signing Stina Blackstenius who found the equaliser in the 79th minute, finishing off an extraordinary through-ball assist from fellow striker Vivianne Miedema.
Matildas vice-captain Steph Catley started for the Gunners at centre-back, while winger Caitlin Foord, who had a quiet Asian Cup campaign, came off the bench at half-time and had a volley saved by Earps.
Australian goalkeeper Lydia Williams was an unused substitute and has not played for Arsenal since mid-December.
Those results mean just two points separate Arsenal in first spot from Chelsea in second, while the Blues have the added advantage of a game in hand over their nearest rivals.
The teams last met in June's FA Cup final, where Kerr scored twice to lift the trophy in a 3-0 win. Prior to that, though, Arsenal won the league's opening-round match 3-2, as well as a pre-season friendly 2-1.
This Saturday's clash between the two heavyweight sides, both of whom lead the league for most goals scored and fewest goals conceded, will determine which team claims pole position heading into the February international break.
Indeed, the entire top four could transform this weekend as Manchester United — who sit three points off Chelsea in third — face crosstown rivals City on Sunday night, while Kyah Simon's Tottenham Hotspur, who are one point behind United in fourth, face bottom-placed Birmingham.
Simon returned from her disappointing Asian Cup with the biggest bang of all, scoring two goals for Spurs in last week's 4-0 win over Brighton to lift her side into mathematical title contention. Just six points separate the teams in the top four as the season moves into its final seven rounds.
Emily Gielnik was not so fortunate in her return to Aston Villa, losing 2-1 to Mackenzie Arnold's West Ham on Monday. The Hammers are yet to welcome home Matildas midfielder Tameka Yallop, who missed Australia's last two Asian Cup games due to a positive COVID-19 test.
West Ham face newly promoted Leicester early next week while Villa take on struggling Everton, who recently fired their head coach after 10 games without a win.
Following this round, the Women's Super League will pause until March 3 with a number of nations competing in friendly tournaments and World Cup qualifiers. The most intriguing of all will be the inaugural Arnold Clark Cup invitational which will see England's Lionesses face Germany, Spain, and Olympic gold medallists Canada.
The Matildas were originally scheduled to participate in Portugal's Algarve Cup that kicks off next week, which would have seen Australia play teams such as Sweden, Norway, Italy, and Denmark, but they withdrew from the event last month.
It was further announced earlier this week that the Matildas will not be gathering for the February window at all due to exhausting travel commitments and monitoring the wellbeing of both players and staff.
