After a hop to Sydney, and a skip back to Brisbane, the Republic of Ireland made the long jump to Perth on Monday.
Heads were spinning for a few days after Thursday's emotional opener against the Aussies at the Accor Stadium. It was a great occasion in a magnificent arena, the players visibly awed by their surroundings and the noise of the travelling support.
Roughly 15 hours after the final whistle had blown, the Girls in Green were back on a plane to their base in Brisbane, where they stayed for just 48 hours before taking the four-and-a-half, 3600km flight west to Perth.
The dreaded protective boot reappeared on Saturday as Louise Quinn nursed an ankle knock. Following the saga of Denise O'Sullivan's Colombian shin scare, the FAI were quick to nip any speculation in the bud by releasing an injury update - and accompanying photo - that assured us Quinn was "due to train with the squad on Monday and is expected to be available for the game against Canada on Wednesday".
After O'Sullivan sat down with the media to reflect on her crazy week - "it was mental, the thing blew up" - nobody fancied another few days of fitness-watch around a key player.
Quinn - as tough as they come - did indeed train at Dorrien Gardens in Perth on Monday evening [5pm local time], the Irish team having arrived 24 hours previously to another jubilant welcome when around 300 fans turned up at the airport clad in shamrock green.
Few teams at this World Cup are enjoying such support, and it's a certainty that the Irish will outnumber the Canadian fans at the 20,500-capacity Perth Rectangular Stadium [aka HBF Park] on Wednesday.
There's a loyal army who are following the team around the country, an incredibly impressive show of dedication given the distances and costs involved.
Already they're making their presence felt downtown. In An Sibin Irish pub in the Northbridge area, two Abbie Larkin flags hang proudly on the wall. The Ringsend teenager could yet prove to be a breakout star at this World Cup; if she does get the nod from the start, it feels like she's ready to do something special.
Added to that is the large expat community here that's embracing the chance to reconnect with home.
In the spirit of Copper Face Jacks, this city is full of nurses and gardaí.
The mining industry is also a huge source of employment, with many drawn here by the lifestyle and opportunites. Still, home is where the heart is, and the presence of Vera Pauw's squad has struck a chord with the large Irish community.
Things tend to be quiet on week days in even the biggest Australian cities but An Sibin has noticed a trickle of new Irish faces popping in since Sunday. They're anticipating the place to be flooded on match day.
Ireland will need that backing against the reigning Olympic champions. Canada are a good side, albeit there's cause for optimism. The Canadians haven't scored more than once against a European team in their last 13 meetings; they've only won one of their last six matches [they beat Brazil in February]; and they toiled in a goalless draw against Nigeria in their group opener.
The return of playmaker Jessie Fleming will help of course, while goal machine Christine Sinclair is an obvious threat, but Ireland aren't without hope.
It's less than a 20-minute walk from An Sibin to the ground, which is an attractive venue with an interesting history.
HBF Park, also formerly known as the Perth Oval, first opened in 1910 and was home to Aussie Rules team East Perth Football Club.
In 2004, the ground was redeveloped - its oval field modified to a rectangular playing area, hence the name change. A-League soccer club Perth Glory FC play there now as do rugby union side the Western Force. Semi-pro rugby league outfit the West Coast Pirates use the venue too, which regularly hosts big music concerts. Ed Sheeran played to 32,000 fans there back in 2015.
The place is so picturesque that you'd almost forget there's sharks in the water. Bull sharks to be precise, which can be spotted in the Swan River that surges through Perth's heart. You'll see dolphins in there too, and kangaroos if you take a spin across the Causeway Bridge to Heirisson Island.
A hop, a skip and a jump.
Blue skies and pleasant temperatures gave way to rain on Tuesday. The Irish are here and they've brought the weather with them.
By Wednesday night we'll know if the country's first FIFA Women's World Cup adventure is a washout, or about to explode into life.
Watch Republic of Ireland v Canada in the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player on Wednesday at 1pm, follow a live blog on RTÉ.ie/Sport and the RTÉ News app or listen to live commentary on 2fm
