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The Matildas may need a new left back against Brazil, which means uncapped teenager Karly Roestbakken is in the mix for an unlikely World Cup debut.

Until last month, Karly Roestbakken's best moment in football came in a park in suburban Melbourne.

In front of just a few hundred people at the underwhelming C.B. Smith Reserve in Fawkner, Roestbakken struck a fine winner over Melbourne City in the W-League.

The full-back was just 16 at the time; and her Canberra United side had just become the first team to beat City, which was unbeaten in their first championship-winning season and was on the way to a second.

Roestbakken has since risen in the ranks to become a Young Matilda; and last month it was her on the end of the phone to team officials when Ante Milicic needed replacement for stricken defender Laura Alleway.

"Over the course of camp in Turkey I was getting a few messages saying just be prepared in case," she said.

"I was just at home on Sunday night and (team manager Vito Basile) rang me and said he's got good news for me. I was very shocked.

"It was a bit of a waiting game. All I could do was keep up my training and fitness to be as best prepared for the call-up if it happened."

The Matildas were heartbroken to bid goodbye to Alleway, a veteran of the team who fell foul of a stress fracture in her foot.

But after crying with their friend, they've quickly flipped the switch to embrace Roestbakken, who has never been inside the Matildas setup, let alone played for the national team.

With Clare Polkinghorne under an injury cloud due to hamstring tightness, Roestbakken is one of the names that could deputise in the team.

Steph Catley is expected to shift centrally if Polkinghorne doesn't play, with Roestbakken, Amy Harrison and Gema Simon in the mix to come in.

Roestbakken said she was grateful to mentors like Lisa De Vanna, who she counted as a teammate at Canberra, for supporting her journey.

"When she came (to Canberra) I was stoked and over the moon," she said.

"She is a great player and someone who has a lot of experience and I can learn a lot from. She's helped me along the way.

"She told me to take this opportunity because I've got nothing to lose. Just roll with it and have fun and enjoy the experience."