Back in February, Republic of Ireland players wore purple wristbands during their friendly against China in Spain as a show of solidarity with Canada, who were in dispute with their own football association over funding cuts and pay inequality.
Ireland weren't the only country to make the gesture, but the Girls in Green understood the battle better than most.
They made a stand against the FAI in 2017 due to the woefully inadequate standards they were enduring in a watershed moment that changed women's football in the country, and ultimately led us to this World Cup.
In that context, Ireland's legacy is safe no matter what happens Down Under; their feats have already had a major social impact and will continue to do so for years to come.
But no one is thinking like that in Western Australia right now.
After months of build-up, Vera Pauw's team are on a tightrope, with another slip consigning them to the dreaded World Cup booby prize of a final-game dead rubber.
Defeat to reigning Olympic champions Canada would mean their chances of making it to the knockout stages are over; a point keeps hope alive heading into the final Group B game against Nigeria on Monday; while a win blows the doors off its hinges. It would crack the group open completely, even offering up the tantalising opportunity of topping the group.
Downing the Canadians is not an impossible task, but it won't be easy.
Bev Priestman's immensely experienced team need a result themselves after being held by the Nigerians last Friday.
The return of Chelsea playmaker Jessie Fleming will help their cause - she missed the opening game with a calf injury - and though centre-half Kadeisha Buchanan sat out training due to illness, she's expected to start.
Meanwhile legendary striker Christine Sinclair, now 40-years-old, is aiming to become the first player ever to score at six different World Cups and will be even more determined to do so after missing a penalty against the Nigerians.
That's the bad news. The good news is, Ireland have a genuine chance here.
Certainly a point is not beyond them, although the fitness of Louise Quinn will be immensely important. She had her first full-contact training session of the week on Tuesday evening, with Pauw admitting her availability would depend on how her foot reacted to the workout.
Quinn came through the session in decent nick but the sight of Heather Payne strapping a tight hamstring was a fresh headache. The Roscommon native stepped out of training as a precaution, with Áine O'Gorman, Diane Caldwell, Claire O'Riordan, Chloe Mustaki and Izzy Atkinson all waiting in the wings to come in.
Canada are ranked seventh in the world but they're not exactly in red-hot form. They've only won six of their last 12 games losing five and drawing the other.
They finished bottom of the standings at the SheBelieves Cup in February after losing two of their three games, including a 3-0 humbling to Japan, and their preparations for the World Cup have undoubtedly been damaged by the draining dispute with Canada Soccer.
They were lacklustre against Nigeria last Friday, and genuinely won't fancy a war of attrition against this resolute and awkward Irish outfit.
"What we've seen from Ireland is everything we’ve scouted coming into the tournament," said Priestman.
"Whenever they’ve played we’ve seen that from them, that shape, that resilience that, doing whatever it takes not to concede mindset. They’re a team full of heart, spirit and passion.
"It’s going to be a great occasion no doubt. But yes, very well-drilled and very well organised and difficult to break down."
Ireland will also have considerable support in the stands to cajole them through the inevitable spells where they'll be starved of possession.
The expat community in Perth is fully embracing the occasion, with a travelling army pouring into the city over the last couple of days to offer reinforcements. There'll be a lot more green than red in the Perth Rectangular Stadium.
"It's how I like to describe it, it’s undeniable, it’s palpable," beamed Kyra Carusa when asked about the fans.
"I've seen the amount of support, not just loved ones, anyone from around the world, anyone who wanted to come out to Australia and have this experience with us and follow us around these games, it’s literally like the 12th man on the pitch.
"The other day, in the stadium in Sydney, though it’s not Tallaght, we were definitely remembering those people who have come out to see us. It is something we try not to forget."
Carusa will lead the line again for this one, with Abbie Larkin pushing hard to come in for Marissa Sheva in a supporting role.
Larkin really shone off the bench against the Aussies. Pauw may be a little anxious about how she does from the start, with regards to her defensive responsibilities in particular, but her willingness to run at players is the type of tool Ireland badly need. For all the heart and graft on show against the Matildas, there was a dearth of creativity.
Lucy Quinn could also help in that sense. She offered drive in the middle of the park when she replaced Sinead Farrelly. It could be Ruesha Littlejohn that comes out. No player ran more than Littlejohn last Thursday [10,719km], but the Glaswegian has an ongoing issue with Achilles tendinopathy that means she has to manage her work load. This might be the right time to inject fresh legs into midfield.
It's been pouring rain in the run-up to kick-off, with the pitch covers brought out to protect the grass. Priestman said she hopes the slick surface will help her team to move the ball quicker and slowly wriggle through cracks in the Irish rearguard.
They will probe and stretch all night, chiefly through the excellent Fleming. Concentration will be key.
Pauw shied away from calling this a must-win game, but she conceded that Ireland's destiny will be out of their hands if they don't claim three points.
"You can only look in the future," she said. "It depends, of course, on the results of others but winning starts with not losing.
"That is very cliché but very much true. So if you play a game like this against the Olympic champion, I have to stay realistic and it's clear that we want to go through this group then we need a result.
"That's clear. If we win, we have it in our own hands… if we have a draw, then we're dependent on other results."
Predicted lineups
Republic of Ireland: Courtney Brosnan; Heather Payne, Niamh Fahey, Louise Quinn, Katie McCabe; Sinead Farrelly, Denise O'Sullivan, Lucy Quinn, Abbie Larkin; Kyra Carusa
Canada:Kailen Sheridan; Kadeisha Buchanan, Jayde Riviere, Ashley Lawrence, Vanessa Gilles; Quinn, Deanne Rose, Julia Grosso, Jordyn Huitema; Jessie Fleming; Christine Sinclair
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
