The Matildas will hope Mary Fowler can replicate her red-hot club form at the SheBelieves Cup amid the star attacker's breakout season at Manchester City.
Fowler has six goals and six assists in the Women's Super League this season, along with a brace in the League Cup and two Champions League goals.
She has combined brilliantly with Bunny Shaw and Vivianne Miedema to reap the rewards of taking a break from Matildas duties in November and December last year.
Fowler, 22, is back in the squad for games against Japan on Friday AEDT in Houston, then the United States and Colombia next week.
"Well, I just hope we get her doing the same for us," interim coach Tom Sermanni said.
"I mean, we want to be an attacking team, an aggressive team, a team that goes forward.
"Like Manchester City, we've got some really pacy and potent strikers in our team.
"So we've got a team that, in some ways, Mary will fit into very well and be able to hopefully show the same form that she's shown for Man City.
"It's great to have her back in the squad, and she's had two really impactful days of training so far. So I'm looking forward to seeing her."
Sermanni has flagged fielding a "very strong team" against Japan, but plans to ensure his entire squad gets game time and is well rotated.
"Firstly, obviously, when you come to a tournament like this, it's everyone's aim to try and win the tournament," he said.
"Secondly, for us, performances are important. It's really important that we put on good performances to keep the team going forward and to keep the confidence high in the team.
"And the third thing is ... we brought some younger, inexperienced players to this tournament. It's looking to give them an opportunity against real quality opposition.
Japan are under new leadership: Danish coach Nils Nielsen, who has hired former Young Matildas coach Leah Blayney as his assistant.
Sermanni, who led Australia to the 2010 Women's Asian Cup title, believes the local rivals are the perfect preparation ahead of next year's home tournament.
"If I look at my own experience going back historically, when we just moved into Asia and we had an Asian Cup a year after we moved into Asia, and we played Japan, China and South Korea about a year out from the tournament," he said.
"It was extremely valuable, because it gives the players experience in playing against the very top level of teams in Asia, and gives you an idea of what you'll need to do next year to try and beat those teams.
"So it's extremely valuable."
Anna Harrington - AAP
