Winless in five matches under new head coach Tony Gustavsson, and with global heavyweights Sweden and USA still to come in a high-quality Group G, the match at Tokyo Stadium has taken on far greater importance than a usual tournament curtain-raiser.

So far, the Gustavsson era has been both experimental and made more difficult by various factors brought to the fore by the COVID-19 pandemic, but the time for tinkering is over, with the result of utmost importance for the Matildas.

1996 silver medallist China PR will open their Group F campaign in what promises to be an epic encounter against two-time silver medallist Brazil at the Miyagi Stadium in Rifu at 5:00pm (local time), before host Japan begin their quest to improve on their 2012 London Olympic Games silver medal finish when they take on Canada at the Sapporo Dome at 7:30pm, with Australia in action against New Zealand an hour later in Group G at the Tokyo Stadium.

There will be a sense of familiarity as the two also squared off in the 2016 Rio Olympics, with Brazil coming out 3-0 victors to finish as group winners ahead of second-placed China PR.

The two teams met in the 2012 edition, where the Nadeshiko secured a 2-1 win over the Canadians in their group opener. It proved to be a vital victory as goalless draws with Sweden and South Africa followed, with Japan - then the reigning FIFA Women’s World Cup champions - advancing to the quarter-finals with Canada also ultimately going through.

Japan then beat Brazil and France to reach the final, losing 2-1 to the United States to secure their best-ever finish in the Olympics.

The 2022 edition will once again blaze a new trail in the development of the women’s game in Asia with an expanded 12 teams set to compete for Continental supremacy – four more than the last four editions – and will feature a newly-introduced Quarter-final stage for the first time in Asian women’s football history.

Song is currently in Japan with the Korea Republic Olympic squad ahead of their involvement in the Tokyo Games and will join his new club upon the conclusion of the tournament.

Qatar - who are on four points - will advance to the quarter-finals should they avoid defeat against already qualified Honduras but Sanchez is aiming for his side to finish as group winners. Panama can pip Qatar on goal difference if they defeat Grenada in their final group tie and the reigning AFC Asian Cup holders lose.

Topping the group will mean facing Group A runners-up El Salvador in the next round and avoiding tournament favourites Mexico.