- Australia will play home and away games
- The winner will qualify for the Paris Games
- New faces desperate to impress Matildas
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The Matildas know that Sam Kerr cannot be replaced.
However, six and a half weeks after Kerr ruptured his ACL, they insist they are ready to earn a coveted Olympic spot without their sensational captain leading the charge.
Australia will face Uzbekistan twice in five days, first in Tashkent on Saturday and then in Melbourne on Wednesday, with the winner of the two-leg playoff securing their place in Paris.
Matildas players have consistently and validly pointed out how well they did in the World Cup while Kerr was out with a calf injury.
But unlike that campaign, Kerr – and his infectious personality and leadership – won’t be part of the team’s camp at all.
The Matildas will go into their Olympic qualifiers against Uzbekistan without their star striker and captain Sam Kerr.
Amy Sayer, centre, believes the Matildas have enough weapons to make it to the Olympics without Kerr
Steph Catley will once again take over the captaincy as coach Tony Gustavsson looks to replace an irreplaceable star up front.
Young forward and midfielder Amy Sayer backed Australia to sort things out.
“It’s really unfortunate that we lost Sam,” Sayer said.
“She is one of the best players on the team and is our captain, so there has been a big void in her absence.
“But I think the team tactics and principles that have been established since the beginning of Tony’s tenure have really helped us close that gap a little bit, and then it’s about who can really fill Sam’s shoes.”
Sayer hopes to be the one to fill those huge scoring boots.
Steph Catley will captain the Matildas in the absence of injured captain Sam Kerr
Australia have called up veteran Michelle Heyman for the first time in five years, while the likes of Caitlin Foord, Mary Fowler and Emily van Egmond have also spent time at centre.
But Sayer, 22, has impressed when given opportunities.
“Without Sam in the team, I know I play in a similar position, and in the past I have been his substitute, in that number 9 or 10 attacking midfield role,” he said.
“I’m not trying to fill her shoes exactly, because she’s that special player, but I think I have similar qualities, and some different ones as well, that can help provide a benefit to the team.”
The match starts at 20:00 (AEDT) in Tashkent.
Australia is taking an in-and-out approach to a difficult journey.
They head from their training camp in Dubai to Tashkent on Friday night and then leave for Melbourne on Saturday night, just hours after the match.
The second match will be at Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium on Wednesday night.