Thailand are ready to face Cameroon in the Fifa Women's World Cup play-offs in New Zealand today.
The match at Waikato Stadium in Hamilton, New Zealand, will kick off at 1pm, Thai time.
Both teams are aiming to qualify for a third successive World Cup, having competed in the 2015 and 2019 editions.
The winners of today's game will next meet Portugal for a place in the 2023 finals to be held in New Zealand and Australia from July 20 to Aug 20.
"We have studied Cameroon's games and the coach [Miyo Okamoto] has told us about the tactics," Thailand goalkeeper Waraporn Boonsing said yesterday.
"No teams here are easy to play against and we have never played against them [Cameroon and Portugal] before.
"We have to give our all because we don't know when we will get another chance [to qualify for the World Cup]."
Thailand midfielder Irravadee Makris said: "You know that African teams tend to have an advantage with their physical condition and speed. We have trained to handle big and fast players. We also played against some men's teams when we were in Thailand to get as ready as we can be."
Cameroon coach Gabriel Zabo said: "We are very optimistic about our chances. We just need to make sure that we defend well and take our chances."
Cameroon reached the last 16 at the 2015 and 2019 World Cup finals and are seen as favourites against the Chaba Kaew.
Meanwhile, Portugal and Chile start with a slight advantage as 10 teams battle it out for the remaining three berths at the World Cup.
Cameroon, Haiti, Panama, Paraguay, Senegal, Thailand, Taiwan and Papua New Guinea are also involved in the tournament, which will complete the field for the first 32-team Women's World Cup.
World No.22 Portugal are the highest-ranked team in the play-off tournament and they await the winners of today's clash between Cameroon and Thailand.
The Portuguese women have never played at the World Cup but winger Jessica Silva is convinced they will be able to stamp their ticket to the 2023 edition next Wednesday at Waikato Stadium.
"We know that Cameroon and Thailand have both been to the last two Women's World Cups and that it won't be easy," she told fifa.com. "But we really believe that we will make it. Portugal simply have to be at the World Cup." bangkok post/reuters