As preparations for next year's Women's World Cup continue, Football Australia has announced that the Matildas are set to face tournament co-hosts New Zealand in a two-game home friendly series in April.
It will be the first time Australia's women's national team have played on home soil since their friendly series against the USA last November, and the first time they have gathered since being bundled out of February's Asian Cup at the quarter-final stage.
While the location of the first friendly on April 8 is yet to be confirmed, FA confirmed that the second game would take place at Canberra's GIO Stadium on April 12.
The Matildas have not played a match in the nation's capital since the 2013 Centenary Cup, when they defeated their Tasman rivals in a penalty shoot-out.
Despite withdrawing from the bid to host Women's World Cup matches, the ACT has a long history of growing women's football and remains a key stakeholder in its future development.
It is currently home to the A-League's only all-women's club, Canberra United, as well as one of Australia's only girls' academies.
"It's exciting to return to the capital for an international fixture," FA CEO James Johnson said.
"The ACT has a strong history of producing women's national team players including names like Lydia Williams, Caitlin Munoz, Amy Wilson and Julie Murray, and watching in the stands could be the next generation of Matildas to follow in their footsteps.
"We want to provide the football community and as many Australians as possible the opportunity to watch the Matildas on home soil while we continue our preparations for the Women's World Cup."
New Zealand is the Matildas' most-played opponent at international level, and was the nation Australia faced in their first official "A" international fixture in 1979.
The second game in the series could mark the 50th "A"-level match between the two sides. They last met in the opening group stage match of last year's Tokyo Olympics, where Australia came away 2-1 winners.
With a number of Matildas and Football Ferns currently competing in the A-League Women's competition, it will also be a chance for fans of Australia's top-tier domestic women's league to see their favourite club players pull on national team colours for the first time this year.
Matildas head coach Tony Gustavsson said he was excited to return to Australia as the team continued its preparations for next year's World Cup.
"With the Women's World Cup on the horizon, the complete focus for the next twelve months will be building a squad to compete on home soil," he said.
"That preparation starts with these matches against our fellow co-hosts New Zealand, and we know they will provide a challenge that will help us learn more about the playing group.
"The April window is an opportunity for us to return to the pitch together in front of home supporters. We, as staff and players, are looking forward to playing before a new set of fans in Canberra who I am sure will welcome us warmly."
Tickets will go on sale on March 9, with a pre-sale window for registered football participants opening on March 4.
One dollar from every ticket sold (plus GST) will be donated to FA's new women's cerebral palsy football program.
