Sydney: The 23 players tasked with winning Australia’s second Asian women’s title have been revealed, after head coach Alen Stajcic named a star-studded squad for next month’s AFC Women’s Asian Cup in Jordan.

Key players Sam Kerr, Katrina Gorry, Emily van Egmond and Alanna Kenendy are all present, in addition to Matildas all-time top scorer Lisa De Vanna, who is set to appear in the tournament for a fifth time.

However, influential winger Caitlin Foord will not be on the plane to Jordan after the 2016 AFC Women’s Player of the Year failed to recover from the foot injury she sustained in the recent W-League finals series.

Kyah Simon, Steph Catley, Hayley Raso and Emily Gielnik – all recent fixtures on the Australian injury list – have recuperated sufficiently to be named in the squad.

Stajcic’s squad is blessed with experience. 13 of the 23 players named have amassed over 50 international caps, and four – Kerr, De Vanna, Simon and Michelle Heyman – have scored at least 20 international goals.

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Melbourne City midfielder Aivi Luik is the surprise selection. The 33-year-old, who featured in Australia’s 2010 AFC Women’s Asian Cup-winning squad, returns to the national team for the first time since 2015.

Australian boss Stajcic spoke of the importance of the imminent tournament, which will be the first of its kind held in West Asia.

“The AFC Women’s Asian Cup is the major tournament on our calendar this year and will also be serving as a FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifier so there is plenty at stake,” he said

“The players have set themselves specific goals for the Asian Cup which is one of the three major international tournaments along with the FIFA Women’s World Cup & Olympics.

Stajcic, who has led Australia to fourth in the FIFA World Rankings, elaborated on the team’s preparations ahead of next month’s tournament.

“We have a good fortnight in Perth before we head to Jordan which allows us to prepare for the tournament in ideal conditions.”

“Looking to the tournament, we certainly do not underestimate any of our opposition. The Korea Republic have made great improvements in recent times and Japan are the defending champions so there will be definitely no complacency on our part.

“We are also all looking forward to playing our first ever match in Perth against Thailand which should be a good challenge and will allow us to see how we are tracking leading into the tournament,” concluded Stajcic.

The match against Thailand will be held on Monday, March 26, before Australia travels to Jordan to begin their AFC Women’s Asian campaign against Korea Republic at Amman’s King Abdullah II Stadium on April 7.

Australia Squad

Number Player Name Club Caps (Goals) 1 Lydia WILLIAMS (gk) Melbourne City FC / Seattle Reign (USA) 65 (0) 2 Caitlin COOPER Sydney FC 9 (2) 3 Aivi LUIK Melbourne City FC 16 (0) 4 Clare POLKINGHORNE Brisbane Roar FC 101 (8) 5 Laura ALLEWAY Melbourne Victory 52 (2) 6 Chloe LOGARZO Sydney FC 24 (3) 7 Steph CATLEY Melbourne City FC / Seattle Reign (USA) 63 (2) 8 Elise KELLOND-KNIGHT Unattached 90 (1) 9 Alex CHIDIAC Adelaide United 7 (0) 10 Emily VAN EGMOND Newcastle Jets / Orlando Pride (USA) 69 (14) 11 Lisa DE VANNA Sydney FC 132 (43) 12 Casey DUMONT (gk) Melbourne Victory 3 (0) 13 Tameka BUTT Brisbane Roar FC / Klepp IL (NOR) 64 (9) 14 Alanna KENNEDY Melbourne City FC / Orlando Pride (USA) 63 (3) 15 Emily GIELNIK Brisbane Roar FC 15 (4) 16 Hayley RASO Brisbane Roar FC / Portland Thorns (USA) 22 (1) 17 Kyah SIMON Melbourne City FC / Houston Dash (USA) 78 (22) 18 Mackenzie ARNOLD (gk) Brisbane Roar FC / Arna Bjornar FC (NOR) 17 (0) 19 Katrina GORRY Brisbane Roar FC / Utah Royals (USA) 63 (14) 20 Samantha KERR Perth Glory / Chicago Red Stars (USA) 61 (21) 21 Ellie CARPENTER Canberra United / Portland Thorns (USA) 16 (1) 22 Larissa CRUMMER Melbourne City FC 19 (3) 23 Michelle HEYMAN Canberra United 59 (20)