Mary Fowler headlines the 26-player squad for Australia ahead of the Matildas' home AFC Women's Asian Cup.
After tearing her ACL in April 2025, the Manchester City attacker's rehab was smooth and speedy and she returned to the pitch on Feb. 1.
However, her comeback has seen her play only 15 minutes for City and she has returned to the sidelines following a knock. But Matildas coach Joe Montemurro has decided she has shown enough to warrant selection.
Sam Kerr has also been included and will play in her first major tournament for the Matildas since the 2023 Women's World Cup.
It's been five months since the Australian captain returned to the pitch following her own ACL injury. She has been working back to full form and fitness for Chelsea while also taking part in friendlies for the Matildas in the latter half of last year.
Kerr will feature in her fifth Asian Cup and is the only remaining member of Australia's 2010 Asian Cup-winning squad.
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Steph Catley will take part in her fourth Asian Cup, while Ellie Carpenter will play in the continental showpiece for a third time.
The 26-player squad also includes eight Asian Cup debutants: Winonah Heatley, Clare Hunt, Kahli Johnson, Jamilla Rankin, Charlize Rule, Amy Sayer, Kaitlyn Torpey and Jada Whyman.
Even though squads have been extended to 26 players -- up from 23 in 2022 - Charlotte Grant was the big omission.
Unfortunately for the Tottenham defender, she has been on the sidelines with a knee injury since October 2025 and hasn't played a Women's Super League game since Oct. 12.
It's the latest in a string of unlucky knocks for Grant after she went to the Paris Olympics as an alternate and played only a minute at the home World Cup in 2023.
After a 2025 which saw a long wait for a new coach and no major tournaments, the Matildas will be raring to play games of consequence once again.
Their last major tournament was the disastrous Olympics campaign in 2024 where they exited at the group stage.
Their last Asian Cup wasn't much better with the team recording their worst ever result in the competition: a quarterfinal exit at the hands of South Korea.
This tournament doubles as World Cup qualification, with the four semifinalists and the two winners of play-in matches directly qualifying for the World Cup in Brazil in 2027.
Australia will take on Philippines on March 1 in the opening game of the tournament before facing Iran on March 5 and South Korea on March 8 to conclude the group stage.
MATILDAS SQUAD:
Sam Kerr, Mackenzie Arnold, Ellie Carpenter, Steph Catley, Alex Chidiac, Kyra Cooney-Cross, Caitlin Foord, Mary Fowler, Katrina Gorry, Winonah Heatley, Michelle Heyman, Clare Hunt, Kahli Johnson, Alanna Kennedy, Holly McNamara, Teagan Micah, Courtney Nevin, Jamilla Rankin, Hayley Raso, Charlize Rule, Amy Sayer, Remy Siemsen, Kaitlyn Torpey, Emily van Egmond, Clare Wheeler, Jada Whyman.