The 23-year-old, who is a teammate of Tameka at the Brisbane Roar, will suit up after Tameka failed to overcome a pair of contact injuries sustained at training in early July. She was also withdrawn from the warm-up fixture against Canada on 13 July.

Sharn celebrated her 23rd birthday this week and now gets a dream opportunity as the Matildas open their Olympic account against the Germans, who won bronze medals in 2000, 2004, 2008 and claimed gold in Rio, before failing to qualify for the Tokyo tournament.

Tameka has been on an individualised injury rehab plan and on reduced training loads over the past fortnight, meaning she wasn’t able to get a medical clearance in time for Australia’s Olympic opener.