Short-handed Canadian WNT faces tough test in key friendlies against Australia

The 2023 FIFA World Cup is more than 10 months away, but the Canadian women's team's preparations begin in earnest this week. 

Canada plays the first of two international friendlies against Australia on Saturday at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium. The two sides will meet again on Sept. 6 at Sydney's new Allianz Stadium.

These games are very important for the reigning Olympic champions, as they'll help them prepare and acclimatize for the World Cup, which will be co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand from July 20 to Aug. 20, 2023. 

Beyond getting used to the conditions, it's also vitally important that Canada takes advantage of every international window between now and then to test itself against tough opponents, the likes of which it could face at the World Cup. Australia fits that bill, as it sits No. 12 in the current FIFA world rankings, five spots below Canada.

Getting to work in <a href="https://twitter.com/FIFAWWC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FIFAWWC</a> conditions