The 27-year-old star was in line to reach a century of international appearances a month ago, and started in Korea Republic’s final Algarve Cup match against Norway, only for it to be abandoned due to heavy rain.

The unusual circumstances mean Ji can now officially celebrate her 100th cap in Korea Republic’s AFC Women’s Asian Cup opener against Australia, but the Chelsea star isn't getting carried away with the personal milestone.

“Saturday’s match is very important for the team and, it’s true, it will be my 100th cap, but I just want to focus on the match rather than that,” she said.

Ji, who has been a crucial ingredient in Chelsea’s run to this season’s UEFA Women’s Champions League semi-finals, arrives in Jordan in top form, and believes her experience in Europe can benefit her team against Australia.

The Southeast Asians begin their 2018 AFC Women’s Asian Cup Group A campaign against China PR at the Amman International Stadium on Friday, with not only continental glory beckoning, but also a place at next year’s World Cup in France.

Having watched her country qualify for the last Women’s World Cup in 2015 thanks to a fifth-place finish at the 2014 Women’s Asian Cup, Suchawadee is understandably eager for history to repeat itself.

Four years on, Fukumoto alongside 15 other class of 2014 members, have made way to a new generation to take on the mantle as the Nadeshiko look to defend their Asian throne.

Now aged 34, the former Japan goalkeeper kept three clean sheets and conceded only three goals en route to winning the 2014 title. 

“We didn't do well against Australia in the opening game, but the squad managed to get over that fast,” said Fukumoto, remembering a night when Japan fought back from 2-0 down against the Matildas to earn a 2-2 draw with two goals in the final 20 minutes.

Lisa De Vanna has been there for the entirety of Australia’s modern history at the AFC Women’s Asian Cup. She scored in the Matildas’ first tournament match as an AFC member association against Korea Republic in 2006, and has gone on to play, and to find the back of net, in every edition of the competition since.

Should the 32-year-old forward strike again when Australia get their Jordan 2018 campaign underway against the same opponents on Saturday, De Vanna will become the first Australian to score at five AFC Women’s Asian Cups.

With further goals at three FIFA Women’s World Cups and two Olympic Games’, that would equal a remarkable 10 major tournaments to feature the West Australian’s name on the scoresheet.

The premier competition is being staged in West Asia for the first time in its history, and the highly regarded Jordanians begin their Group A campaign against the Philippines at the Amman International Stadium on Friday.

With continental glory on the line, as well as qualification for next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup in France, Al Naber feels the Jordanians are more than capable of holding their own against Asia’s finest.

The Philippines were the feel-good story of the Jordan 2018 qualifiers last April, stringing together a series of impressive wins in Tajikistan to end a 15-year absence from the top tier of the women’s game in Asia.

Perhaps more than anyone, co-captainImpelido has experienced the full gamut of the Philippines’ journey from minnows to one of the continent’s elite women’s teams.

As recently as a month ago, star goalkeeper Zhao Lina and experienced forward Gu Yasha appeared to have little chance of featuring at Jordan 2018, but both were part of the travelling party when the Steel Roses arrived in Amman.

Zhao retired from international football in late January, while 2008 AFC Women’s Asian Cup runner-up Gu has not pulled on China’s famous red shirt in over a year, but head coach Siggi Eyjolfsson revealed the process of bringing the duo back into the fold.