Faith and belief the driving forces for Amber Barrett

It's a week for faith and belief.

Faith that the Republic of Ireland won't freeze on the biggest stage of their lives when they face Australia in front of 83,000 fans in Sydney; belief they can get something out of an extremely difficult game.

In Milford, Co Donegal, they'll be changing the time of morning Mass to make sure they can all get home to support one of their own: Amber Barrett.

"They have moved Mass earlier on Thursday, so they can accommodate the 11am kick-off," Barrett laughed. "That says it all. Hopefully Jesus does us a wee favour on Thursday night.

"[The hype] is starting to build, my dad is on his way, my brother has done flight one, my mum was saying I have a shout-out at Mass, so I think I have officially made it."

Ireland are here in Australia because of Barrett's winning goal against Scotland in the play-off last October.

She sealed her place in the World Cup squad with a brace against Zambia in June and has a knack of making a big impatc off the bench.

The 27-year-old won't start against the Matildas at the Accor Stadium, but Vera Pauw is certain to turn to the Standard Liege striker at some point during the three group games.

"I have said it a million times before, I just always believe that I am going to get a chance to score," she said.

"Of course, that doesn't always happen. It depends on how the game is going but I think going into a game like that, I am in the mindset that I have to be really difficult to manage for whatever length of time it is and then when the ball drops to me, I am backing myself to score because at that stage of the game, there is nothing to lose.

"You are one-nil down and you want to get something out of the game. And I think that is the most important attitude to have."

Barrett