Tournament co-hosts Australia will be banking on the huge home support and Sam Kerr starting when they take on European champions England in the second of the Women's World Cup semi-finals.
Sydney's Accor Stadium Australia is sure to be a cauldron of sorts as the numbers getting behind the Matildas continues to grow. With a win over England, Australia can advance to the final and try to become the only team other than the United States to claim the Women’s World Cup on home soil.
Spain have already booked their place in Sunday's decider after edging Sweden in a contest which burst into life in the last ten minutes. Olga Carmona's stunning late winner settled what was a cagey tie for the most part. Will we have a similar caginess on Wednesday? If so, it would be in contrast to some of the utterances coming from both camps.
Australia vice-captain Steph Catley has said her team was "just primed for this moment".
"We’ve got a perfect little balance of a core group that understand the gravity of the situations and a small group of younger players who might not understand the gravity, which is kind of bliss," she told reporters.
Lauren Hemp, who scored England's equaliser against Colombia, said: "Australia, bring it on. It’s going to be a packed stadium with so many Australian fans, but we know if we play at our best we are unstoppable."
Watch how Australia prevailed after a marathon penalty shootout against France
As is often the way in tournament football, it's a question of working your way through, finding a way to win. And that has been the case for both teams ahead of this semi-final, more so England you would have to say. We expected them to come out of their group with some ease, but there was nothing eye-catching from them early on.
In many respects, they were second best against Nigeria in the round of 16, advancing in a penalty shoot-out, this after Lauren James saw red for a stamp on Michelle Alozie. James got a two-match suspension but is eligible to play in the final if her team-mates do the business in Sydney.
On Saturday, the Lionesses again looked far from fluid, going a goal behind against Colombia before indecision from the Colombian keeper saw them draw level just on half-time. Alessia Russo then fired in what was to be the winning goal just past the hour mark. Late pressure from the South Americans did not yield an equaliser.
Watch the highlights as England came from behind to beat Colombia
And so Sarina Wiegman's side are a step closer in quest to for a Euros-World Cup double.
Of course Australia began this World Cup against the Republic of Ireland on 20 July. It seems so long ago now. The news that Sam Kerr would not be playing gave Ireland renewed hope. Pauw's side could not seize that opportunity in a game that was decided by a Steph Catley penalty.
A week later Nigeria did put a spanner in the works but the recovery mission saw impressive wins over Canada and Denmark. After starting slowly against the French last weekend, the Matildas grew into the game and had the chances to win it in the 120 minutes plus of playing time.
The spot-kick drama that followed was worth watching. Twenty kicks, well 21, in that one had to be re-taken, with the Aussie keeper off her line. Courtnee Vine, in the end struck home the penalty that had to be struck home.
And so it's Australia v England: keen rivals in other codes, yet it's sure to be intense with 80,000 inside a stadium, the majority of which will be shouting for the home side.
The Guardian in 2013 published a guide as to what gives Australia v England an added edge.
They referenced: 'Brutality is an inevitability; 'an upset is always on the cards'; 'eccentricity is a quality to embrace'; 'the spirit of one-upmanship goes beyond the field'; 'defection and affection is common in later life'; 'the rivalry begins before the Ashes'.
England are favourites, though one wouldn't fall off the chair if Australia prevailed.
Aussie coach Tony Gustavsson is expecting a close match and is banking on the home crowd to lift the Matildas in the biggest game of their lives.
"If you look at rankings they're favourites, if you look at where their players play, they have starting players in top clubs in top leagues all over the world," Gustavsson said in a press conference on Tuesday.
"Not just the starting 11, down to 15, 16. We have bench players in those teams. We have players playing in mid-table teams in Sweden.
"So if you look at all that and you look at resources, financially, obviously they are massive favourites going into this game.
"But the one thing that we have that they don't have is the support and belief from the fans. That in itself is going to be massive tomorrow."
Gustavsson said his top striker Sam Kerr was fit to play but he was not certain that she would start as her workload was still being managed because of the calf injury that ruled her out of Australia's first three matches.
"There'll be a meeting tonight again to see the best starting 11, the best finishing 11 and whether we plan for 90 minutes or plan for an extra time," he said.
"There'll be some tough decisions again tonight but Sam is definitely available for selection."
Gustavsson's counterpart Serina Wiegman also predicted a "tight" game but was boosted by her team having no fitness issues - possibly giving them the edge after Australia went to extra time and penalties in their quarter-final against France.
"We have a fit group, we recovered really well again (from the win over Colombia), so we will be at our best tomorrow, physically, and so football-wise, too," she said.
"I don't think they're the underdog, they play at home, the stadium will be beautiful. I think there's two teams that are very good and very strong and have grown into the tournament," Wiegman added.
"So I think it's going to be very tight and it's going to be very, very competitive. And we approach the game as any other game, we prepare how we want to play, we analysed our opponents really well. So hopefully we can take out the strengths and exploit some weaknesses."
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The RTÉ panel have been impressed by how Australia have performed despite star player Sam Kerr not playing 90 minutes yet. But England come in as favourites.
Watch the second #FIFAWWC semi-final live on @RTE2 and @RTEPlayer from 9.30am Wednesday#WWC2023 pic.twitter.com/3n8tjHmE8r
On the chances of the co-hosts making the final, Ireland international Aine O'Gorman, speaking on RTÉ2's coverage of Spain v Sweden said: "At this stage they've done really well to get to this stage. They have nothing to lose, I know they are the host nation but there is probably more pressure on England to get to the final, and they are more used to getting to these situations.
"Hopefully Sam Kerr will start for Australia, that will be a big boost for them. That's when they are at their best, get the ball through to Sam Kerr up the pitch and then get Caitlan Foord and (Hayley) Raso in off the wings."
On the same programme, former Ireland goalkeeper Emma Byrne in assessing England, added: "The players have said they don't mind winning ugly. They won the Euros and I don't think they really impressed. They have individual players that can win games.
"Lauren James is a massive player so they lack that creativity without her, Beth Meade not playing either, so they have problems there. If they can sort the backline out and that holding midfield I think they have a great chance of winning. They have the best keeper in Mary Earps."
Additional reporting: PA, Reuters
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