Australia captain Shannon Parry believes her side of "professional amateurs" will relish the tag of "underdogs" at the 2017 Women's Rugby World Cup, especially when they take on tournament hosts Ireland in their opening match of the competition.
The Wallaroos' squad features a mix of youth and experience with a target of claiming a top-four finish in Ireland, but Parry says they are focusing for the time being on just one game.
"We're professional amateurs," Parry said at the Wallaroos' World Cup farewell after a two-week preparation that included a camp in Sydney. "For us it's about that first game against Ireland and setting that platform well, and I think if we can do that we'll go a long way in this tournament. We've still got a week's worth of preparation to get under our belt, get those simple plays and getting them 110 percent and everyone knowing their own role.
"We want to be known as professional amateurs, we want to be seen as a united squad, we want to be well respected at the World Cup. For us it's one game at a time, and it's ticking that first box against Ireland."
Wallaroos coach Paul Verrell believes the team can top Ireland, France and Japan in Pool C, but he says Parry and her fellow Olympic gold medal winner Sharni Williams, and their sevens teammate Mahalia Murphy, are key to the team's tournament hopes because their experience will help the amateur players in the squad prepare to compete on the bigger stage.
"They bring that professionalism to the team, a lot of advice, how to prepare on travel, how to come together, how to recover," Verrell said at the farewell. "They've been a big benefit and are cool heads on the ground when we're under pressure. They'll be able to come together -- Shannon, Sharni -- to bring those girls together and be ready to go.
"I think with the mix of the sevens girls who've come in with a bit of experience, and some younger girls, we've got a good side. Looking at the pool games we've got, I've done a lot of analysis and I think we can definitely top our pool and go through to the top four."
Australia took on the top three nations in women's rugby -- Canada, New Zealand and England -- in New Zealand in June, and they were found wanting in each of their three games. Parry understands the team now heads to Ireland with an underdog tag but she says "we're not going to shy away from that, it's something that all Aussie teams thrive off".
"I definitely do think we'll be competitive. There's no pressure on us. The only pressure we put on is within ourselves."
Looking no further than Australia's opening fixture against Ireland, Parry says the Wallaroos have to "get out there early, control that crowd, and anything can happen".
"We've got a good team, plenty of experience, we've got a great coaching panel that's there to help us and guide us in the right direction. For us as players, it's about nailing our individual roles and nailing that opposition against you. We've got absolutely nothing to lose. But in saying that, we need to be switched on. We don't really worry about what's on down the track. We need to beat Ireland and get this World Cup campaign off on a positive note."
Unlike their male counterparts, the Wallabies, the Wallaroos head to the Women's Rugby World Cup without professional contracts, with many of the players taking unpaid leave to compete; Verrell says the passion for the jumper is "the thing that we play on".
"They're here to play in the Australian jersey, the Wallaroos jersey," Verrell tells ESPN.
"The first time you wear the coat of arms on that jersey, you get a real bump, which is a terrific thing for the players. "They'll bring passion -- they're very, very proud to be there -- they're proud and they understand the Wallaroos history and what it's taken them to get there, and I think they'll draw on that."
Parry reiterates that the jersey "means a lot" to the players.
"And to give up a lot and to give up money to be able to represent their country ... they might only ever get one jersey, but they're full steam ahead and they want to represent this sporting nation and make this country proud."