The 27-year-old is well acquainted with the Steel Roses, having not only played against them on several occasions at international level, but also having played club football for Chinese second-tier outfit Yunnan Jiashijing during the 2019 season.

While brother Teerasil is an established J1 League star in the men’s game, Taneekarn’s only previous overseas experience came in a 2014 stint with Swedish club Ostersunds, but goals against the likes of Mexico and Italy in the 2019 Cyprus Cup, and solid showings at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in France opened the door to a move north.

An added incentive for Nguyen and her teammates is that a win at the Jeju World Cup Stadium would seal their place in next month’s Play-offs, with Myanmar having suffered a 7-0 defeat to Korea Republic in the three-team Group A.

The prolific striker, who recently completed a high-profile move to FA Women’s Super League powerhouse Chelsea, is far from a certain starter when the Matildas begin their campaign against group leaders Chinese Taipei on Friday, saying the team would take no unnecessary gambles to get her into Ante Milicic’s starting line-up.

Already considered outsiders to achieve the top two finish required to advance from Group B, the Chaba Kaew’s odds lengthened considerably after they failed to find the back of the net in their opening match, but, like all goalkeepers, Sornpao doesn’t like to concede, and the American-born shot-stopper said no one in the Thai camp has given up on their Olympic dream.

Colin Bell’s side got their Group A campaign of the third round of the Qualifiers off to a great start, scoring seven goals against Myanmar at the Jeju World Cup Stadium on Monday.

Ji, who contributed a brace, however feels the team can still work on certain areas of the game ahead of their final fixture against Vietnam on Sunday.

Vietnam will open their campaign against a Myanmar side who are aiming to bounce back from their 7-0 defeat to Korea Republic on Monday.

The top two teams from Group A will advance to the Play-offs with the Group B sides, with the winners to join hosts Japan in the Olympics.

Ting’s strike, which carried her side to a 1-0 success over Thailand in the opening AFC Women’s Qualifying Tournament Group B match on Monday, made it eight successive victories in the competition for Chinese Taipei, with Olympic qualification now potentially two or three wins away.

Another positive result against either Australia or China PR would give Chinese Taipei a good chance of advancing to next month’s final Play-off Round, where they would meet one of Korea Republic, Vietnam or Myanmar on a home and away basis.