The Matildas have been dealt a reality check as they ramp up their FIFA Women's World Cup preparations, suffering a 4-2 defeat to an understrength Germany.
With limited international windows remaining before next year's global showpiece event in Brazil, Friday's (Saturday AEDT) clash against the world No.3 in Karlsruhe was crucial.
Headlines before the game were dominated by the absence of Manchester City star Mary Fowler (personal reasons), and she was missed as the Germans scored the opening two goals.
But captain Sam Kerr's header on the stroke of halftime helped the visitors close the deficit before the home team's Camilla Kuver scored in the 83rd minute.
Striker Holly McNamara did find a late consolation goal for the Matildas, but Chelsea midfielder Sjoeke Nusken made sure the Europeans got the last laugh.
For Germany, the victory came despite the two-time world champions missing a plethora of stars, including captain Giulia Gwinn (ankle) and Liverpool forward Vivien Endemann (calf).
The error-prone Australia, however, will rue the missed opportunity to capitalise on their opponents' outs as a win would have helped them remain firmly in pot two out of four for the World Cup draw, meaning a mathematically better chance for a more favourable draw.
Despite the result, the Matildas will have something to celebrate as defender Tori Tumeth made her debut off the bench in the second half.
World No.15 Australia sent an early warning shot when Ellie Carpenter put in a dangerous cross to Kerr, but Germany upped the ante afterwards.
Defender Carlotta Wamser lofted a cross to Franziska Kett, and she used her head to guide the ball onto the feet of forward Melissa Kossler.
Seven minutes later Kossler stormed down the field and thumped the ball into the bottom left corner.
But in the dying moments of the first half, Carpenter fired a cross onto the head of Kerr and the Gotham City striker closed the deficit to 2-1 at the break.
Midfielder Clare Wheeler had an opportunity go begging in the 56th minute when her shot rattled onto the crossbar.
Coach Joe Montemurro made four changes in the 64th minute as Australia pushed for an equaliser.
But Bayern Munich's Linda Dallmann dispatched a corner for a header by defender Kuver, and she nodded the ball past Mackenzie Arnold.
In injury time, Caitlin Foord poked the ball to McNamara, and she scored. However, Nusken fired the ball into the bottom right corner to seal the victory.
