The Matildas will ramp up preparations for their Asian Cup defence in Wollongong on Sunday when they take on China in an international friendly.
The hosts will be slightly under-strength having lost striker Kate Gill to illness and defender Teigen Allen to injury, as well as picking just two players from Sydney FC, who are headed to Japan for the Women's World Club Championship starting on November 30.
But coach Hesterine de Reus says their two-game friendly series with world No.16 China will give them the best indication yet about where they stand ahead of the Asian Cup, which starts next May and doubles as the qualifier for the 2015 World Cup in Canada.
"Of course it is a very good benchmark for us to work out where we are," de Reus told AAP on Saturday.
"It is a good challenge to see if we can beat them. If we want to be good in the Asian Cup, then this is a good benchmark.
"We can find out how we play against an Asian-type of football.
"We have to be good (at the Asian Cup). We have to qualify for the World Cup.
"We are also the holders of the Asian Cup so we want to go there with the intention to win it again."
De Reus has had just under 12 months in charge of the women's national side, and says players are only now fully embracing the style she is attempting to employ.
"It's not only me as a new person in the group, the whole staff changed. But I think the group is getting more comfortable with the changes," she said.
"That really helps to focus on the improve on the style of playing.
"They have a better picture of how we want to play."
The second of the friendlies will take place at Parramatta Stadium on November 27.
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