From giving up hosting rights of the tournament due to the coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan, to being confined to a Brisbane hotel for over a week – with no access to the training pitch - for precautionary quarantining, China PR’s build-up to the tournament in Sydney has been anything but smooth.

Even after arriving in the host city, unrelenting rain forced Jia Xiuquan’s staff into a revised training programme, but the team has looked superb on the pitch, storming to a 6-1 win over Thailand before backing it up with a 5-0 success against Chinese Taipei.

Superior goal difference means the hosts require only a draw to top the group – and set up a play-off with Vietnam – but Chinese boss Jia Xiuquan believe his side’s familiarity with local conditions will minimise Australia’s home ground advantage.

While both sides have already sealed their places in the final play-off round, top spot of Group B in the AFC Women’s Olympic Tournament remains up for grabs in Thursday’s encounter and Logarzo believes the Matildas will be anything but complacent at Western Sydney Stadium.

“No. Actually, for the first time going into a major tournament, I don’t think there is any complacency,” said Logarzo, who scored the opening goal in the last meeting between the sides; a 2-0 Australian win just under two years ago.

The Steel Roses once again brushed off an interrupted preparation to achieve a handsome victory, this time scoring an excellent 5-0 win over Chinese Taipei despite being restricted to indoor training due to Sydney’s wild weekend weather.

Sunday’s downpour was particularly poorly timed given China’s inability to properly train in the week prior to the tournament, but their on-field performances have seemingly been unaffected, with Monday’s result following an earlier 6-1 win over Thailand.

The win, which sealed Australia’s place in next month’s Play-off round, was another commanding performance from Milicic’s side, who can now finish as Group B winners with a draw or win against China PR on Thursday.

Wang Shanshan continued her triumphant return to the team with a brace, while Tang Jiali, Wu Haiyan and Li Ying also got their names on the scoresheet in a stunning five-goal first-half blitz.

An Emily van Egmond hat-trick, a Kyah Simon brace and a further goal from substitute Hayley Raso gave Australia the handsome win they needed to retain top spot in the group on goal difference, meaning only a draw is required against China PR on Thursday for Ante Milicic’s side to finish as Group B winners.

While Australia continue to make smooth progress on the road to Tokyo 2020, Monday’s result was the end of the road for Thailand, who suffered a third successive defeat to finish bottom of the group.