Priestman says Canada not caught up in Kerr drama at World Cup

MELBOURNE : Canada have not been drawn into the drama around whether Australia's injured striker Sam Kerr will play in their crunch game on Monday, coach Bev Priestman said, while clarifying her own captain Christine Sinclair was good to go.

Australia coach Tony Gustavsson said Kerr's availability is "down to the wire" for their final Group B match at the Women's World Cup, after the Chelsea forward, the Matildas' leading goal-scorer, sat out two matches with a calf injury.

Canada can oust the host nation with a win or draw at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium.

"Obviously, the team has to be prepared to play a world-class player like Sam Kerr, and we'll be ready for that. But ultimately, we've got to get us right," Priestman told reporters on Sunday. "So ultimately, does it affect me? No. How much have we spoke about if she is or if she isn't? We haven't.

"We spoke about what it's going to take to beat Australia because Australia aren't just Sam Kerr."

Priestman said Sinclair, who limped off the field after Canada's 2-1 win over Ireland, and Kadeisha Buchanan, who was battling an illness, will both play.

"Yes, they both trained today," the coach said.

The 40-year-old Sinclair, who is playing in her sixth World Cup, trained with kinesiology tape around her right knee and warmed up with a resistance band under the watchful eye of a trainer, but appeared to be running well.

Priestman's reigning Olympic champions are hoping for their first World Cup medal, with a best-ever finish of fourth in 2003. Australia's best finish is sixth (2007), but they have not missed the knockout round since 2003.

Asked what her team will need to beat the Aussies, Priestman said, "We have to bring us.

"There's a lot around what might come up in front of