GOLD COAST, Australia -- After two losses to Brazil, the Matildas know they need to make some improvements as they continue their journey towards the 2026 Women's Asian Cup on home soil.
But with 15 months until that tournament kicks off, Australia is in an unusual position where they have over a year's worth of preparation but no permanent head coach since Tony Gustavsson's post-Olympics exit. For winger Hayley Raso, the key to making the team better is obvious.
"We're in a period now where we've got time, so I think first and foremost, it's about getting the coach in," she said following her side's 2-1 loss to Brazil on the Gold Coast.
"After that, we'll probably start working on a philosophy, finding our feet, but we've got time to be able to work on those things that we need to. And I suppose we'll take that time before the Asian Cup to do that."
While a permanent appointment sooner rather than later would be ideal to ensure the team has enough time to find new players and adjust to new playing styles, Raso doesn't want Football Australia to rush into a decision.
"Of course, it's important to get a coach in ... but at the same time, we need to get the right appointment," she said.
"I know that the people behind the scenes are working on that, and we just turn up and we step out onto the field when needed to."
The Matildas will play at least another two games under interim boss Tom Sermanni, taking on Chinese Taipei in Melbourne and Geelong this week.
He will be forced into some squad rotation as eight of the team's European-based players are expected to return to their clubs with eight locally based players coming in to round out the squad.
Appointed in October, Sermanni is still unsure if this four-game window will be his last in the temporary role.
"I don't know at this stage, as I say, I'm in the job and I'll just do the job until such time as somebody at [Football Australia] comes and says to me your time is up, I will continue to do the job," he said.
Sermanni is "comfortable in the interim role" while the federation looks for a longer-term option.
And while he doesn't know if he will still be at the helm for the Matildas first window of 2025 -- at the SheBelieves Cup in February -- he will plan and prepare over the intervening months as if he is.
The friendly tournament, which will see the Matildas take on the United States, Japan, and Colombia, could not only be the new manager's first games in charge but could see the return of injured skipper Sam Kerr.
The Chelsea forward has been sidelined since January after tearing her ACL.
"Everybody knows what Sam Kerr can bring to a team," Raso said of her teammate.
"We've missed her as a person and as a player, of course, but making sure she does the right things, looks after herself, looks after her knee and when she's ready, we'll obviously welcome her with open arms back into the team."