Beth Mooney will defy a broken jaw to open the batting for Australia in their women's Ashes Test with England.
On the eve of the first of three T20 matches between the two teams, Mooney's hopes of playing any part in the multi-format series looked over when she was struck on the jaw in a final net session.
The sickening blow, caused when Australian coach Matthew Mott delivered a ball, caused an outpouring of blood and left Mooney, 28, reeling in pain.
Sure enough, she underwent urgent surgery to have three titanium plates screwed into her face, and with her bottom teeth wired together, has been taking calories through a straw having been placed on a liquid diet.
Inevitably, she missed the trio of 20-over games, two of which were rained off anyhow, but just 10 days after the incident has remarkably been passed fit to play the four-day match in Canberra, which starts 11pm tonight [Wednesday] UK time.
"Beth Mooney so far has passed everything that she's needed to. Assuming she gets through training today like we expect her to she'll be available and she'll be playing," captain Meg Lanning told reporters.
'"It's pretty incredible, right from the moment she got hit, and to come back to international cricket around a week after having jaw surgery, it's inspirational for the group and she's been really positive around everyone.
"She looks really good in the nets and in the field as well and she's confident she'll have no issues moving forward."
Mooney was spotted managing to crack a smile in her side's latest net session, having previously told The Australian: " There was blood everywhere, with blood coming out of my mouth, I knew it wasn't great.
"The sheer impact of the ball ended up splitting my jaw right down the middle of my chin. There were a couple of pretty nasty breaks and thankfully they've been put back together."
She added she felt sorry for the players who had to bat after her "because there were a couple of pools of blood at the end of the net."
Australia lead the series 4-2 having won the first T20 before the two latter contests were washed out, and with the Test worth four points, victory will ensure they retain the urn.
Three ODI games will follow, worth two points per win.
