Matildas young gun Mary Fowler will miss Australia's second group match at the FIFA Women's World Cup after suffering a concussion at training on Tuesday.
Fowler sent a scare through the Matildas' camp when she received a knock towards the end of the team's closed training session. Teammate Aivi Luik was also concussed in a separate incident.
Under Football Australia's concussion protocols, Fowler sat out training on Wednesday and is unable to play against Nigeria in Brisbane on Thursday.
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The 20-year-old underwent precautionary tests on Tuesday before Football Australia later confirmed that Fowler was OK, but protocols will rule her out.
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Australia's inner circle has played mind games with injuries during the tournament after coach Tony Gustavsson and captain Sam Kerr last week stated that the squad was fully fit in their pre-match press conference before Kerr was ruled out with a calf injury just before kickoff the following day.
Already ruled out of the Matildas' clash with Nigeria on Thursday night at Brisbane Stadium, Kerr once again did not train with the main group on Wednesday.
It remains to be seen if Kerr will step onto the field at all in the group stage, or whether a further seven-day break before the round of 16 will be deemed more beneficial in her recovery.
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