Ex-Matildas and Socceroos stars insist there’s ‘no chance’ of Sam Kerr starting against Canada – as scenario comes to light where superstar won’t play at all

Matilda’s great Amy Chapman and Socceroos legend Mark Schwarzer both believe injured Aussie star Sam Kerr will start from the bench against Canada tonight – if she plays at all.

The Chelsea star and captain of Matildas has missed the opening two group matches at the Women’s World Cup with a calf injury and is racing against time to be fit for the third and final group stage match that will decide who progresses to the knockout rounds.

In a worrying sign for Aussie fans, Kerr was spotted with her calf heavily strapped on match day, but the superstar striker assured fans on Saturday that she will be playing.

Kerr would not confirm whether she would start or come off the bench and Chapman, who played with and against Kerr, said it was much more likely she would be an impact substitute if she was cleared to play my medics.

Kerr spotted with bandages on her troubled calf on the day of the World Cup match against Canada that will determine if the Matildas reach the knockout stages

“She’s just going to be a game-changer. She’s definitely not going to start, there’s no chance you can play 90 minutes on an injured calf,” said ex-midfielder Chapman with 20 points.

“Your only choice is to do the first 45 without her, then she can’t get off the bench until the second half, depending on how the game goes.

“Personally, with calf injuries in my day, I know you can’t play 90 minutes under fatigue, she just won’t survive. It would be crazy.

“Sam’s trumps are best used on a tired opponent when play does open up, when both teams are striving for something. So it would be a shame to take the risk that she will be so defensive in the first half.’

Schwarzer, who failed to score an incredible 109 caps for the Socceroos, agrees with Chapman, saying the subterfuge was only meant to take the Canadians out of their game.

“I hope I’m wrong, I hope we’re all wrong,” he said of her predicted limited role on the pitch.

“If we assume Tony Gustavsson, whether or not she trained with the team, that is of course tactics, not revealing too much to the opponent.”

“But the fact that they didn’t want to lie openly, but also didn’t want to answer the question directly – and they did – paints a picture.”

Having played for Australia more times than any other Socceroo, Schwarzer believes Kerr will be stopped against Canada before coming on as a substitute

Chapman marks Kerr during their time playing for Canberra and Perth in the Australian W-League

There’s also a chance that Kerr won’t play at all.

Chapman and Schwarzer are confident Kerr will play no part at the Melbourne Rectangular Stadium if the Matildas are comfortably ahead and have already secured a group stage ticket.

“No, I don’t think they’ll take her if it’s just the two of us,” Schwarzer said.

“If the game is under control, and if they can complete the task without involving Sam, I think they will.”

“Ideally, they don’t need to use her at all,” Chapman added.

“Knowing they could plop her down to perform some sort of miracle in the last 15 minutes, she can get off the couch just for me, no chance of her starting.”

Tune in to Optus Sport at 7pm AEST for live coverage of Australia’s crucial do-or-die match against Canada.