The Republic of Ireland landed in Sydney on Wednesday morning for the game of their lives.
This is it. All the build-up and graft has been leading towards a monumental Women's World Cup showdown with Australia at the magnificent Accor Stadium, which will welcome over 75,000 fans on Thursday.
The Matildas are on home soil of course, but the raucous welcome Ireland received at the airport was a reminder that the traveling green army – plus diaspora – will make their presence felt.
It promises to be an incredible occasion, one Vera Pauw described as the crowning moment of her career.
"We don't fear anyone," she said. "The pitch is the same size. The goals are the same size. The referee is on the pitch, we start the game and there is 90 minutes plus injury time.
"We have millions watching us around the world. What else do you want as an elite player? We are coming here as debutants, we are experiencing the World Cup at a level we would have never expected to be before. It is amazing, just embrace it. We want this and we are going to go for it."
Ireland's final training session – delayed because the team coach got stuck in rush-hour traffic – was in keeping with the slightly chaotic vibe of the last week.
This is a team that never seems to do things the easy way, but they are nothing if not resilient.
"Because they are tigers," Pauw replied when asked what gave her belief her team won't freeze in the Sydney cauldorn.
"Really, that is what it is. Have we ever collapsed under the pressure? Indeed, this is of the max. We played Sweden away in a full stadium, Finland away in a full stadium, Scotland away after only three days when we knew we had to play there. It wasn't a full stadium, but everyone was against us, right? Did we collapse at any point? Why would we collapse now?"
There's no evidence to suggest they will collapse but make no mistake, this is an incredibly difficult task for Ireland.
Australia boss Tony Gustavvson looks like he's got his build-up spot on, the team coming to the boil at just the right time.
"We don't just want to create history, we want to leave a legacy as well back at home."
They'll likely start with the same XI that faced France six days ago and both Gustavvson and his captain Sam Kerr were in confident mood at the Aussies' pre-match press conference.
Having told the media that he had a clear plan to exploit Ireland's weaknesses, Gustavsson outlined the work he's done to improve the squad since he took the reins three years ago.
"They play to their strengths," he said. "The identity of the team had been formed before I arrived. They'd been playing together for years.
"So as a coach, it's about getting to know them and how to get the most out of them. Playing them in the right positions with the right mindset, getting the right people around them. That’s been our focus. They have been amazing in embracing a new generation of players as well. So it’s a perfect mix of youth and experience forming ahead of this World Cup."
Ireland's delay in getting to training meant their 'familiarisation' period at the ground [ie they walked the pitch] was later than planned.
They're going to need everyone to find their feet very quickly on Thursday, but skipper Katie McCabe stirred the blood with a typically forthright rallying cry.
"For us, fundamentally as a team, we don't just want to create history, we want to leave a legacy as well back at home and we want to have girls and boys looking at us tomorrow morning when they wake up and seeing us walk out," the Tallaght woman said.
"I know there are over 100 watch parties all over the country. I think my siblings have hired out my mam's house, because she’s here, to watch the game.
"Yeah, it’s going to be a great buzz and I just hope everybody enjoys it. If you haven’t got yourself a watch party back in Ireland, make sure you get to one."
McCabe will be deployed at left wing-back to try and nullify the considerable threat posed by Ellie Carpenter and Cortnee Vine.
It looks like Gustavsson will be without injured pair Kyah Simon and Tameka Yallop, while the excellent Mary Fowler will be held back on the bench.
Katrina Gorry and Kyra Coone-Cross will sit in the middle of the park and look to feed the lethal trio of Kerr, Caitlin Foord and Hayley Raso, but Ireland have been boosted by Denise O'Sullivan's recovery from a shin injury. She'll be immensely important in the engine room alongside Sinead Farrelly and, most likely, Ruesha Littlejohn.
Marissa Sheva, a real favourite of Pauw's since her introduction to the squad in February, will look to offer lone striker Kyra Carusa support while Megan Connolly will drop back into central defence beside Louise Quinn and Niamh Fahey.
There's a lot of experience in that rearguard but not much pace, so expect Ireland to sit very deep. Their best chance here is to frustrate, frustrate, frustrate and hope a chance will come. If it does, they must take it.
That's what happened in Gothenburg when they held Sweden to a 1-1 draw, and it was similar against Scotland in the play-off at Hampden Park.
It's going to be a tense, tough night, but Pauw is convinced they're ready for it.
"It is fantastic," she said. "No fear, there is no fear. It is the most amazing thing we have ever experienced in our lives. So, no fear, please."
Predicted line-ups
Australia: Mackenzie Arnold; Ellie Carpenter, Clare Hunt, Alanna Kennedy, Steph Catley; Hayley Raso, Kyra Cooney-Cross, Katrina Gorry, Cortnee Vine; Caitlin Foord, Sam Kerr (capt)
Republic of Ireland: Courtney Brosnan; Heather Payne, Niamh Fahey, Louise Quinn, Megan Connolly, Katie McCabe; Ruesha Littlejohn, Denise O'Sullivan; Sinead Farrelly, Marissa Sheva; Kyra Carusa
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