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Australia will wait until the last minute to make a decision on captain Sam Kerr’s fitness for Monday’s crucial Women’s World Cup game against Canada.<\/span><\/p>\n The Chelsea striker missed Australia’s opening two games with a calf injury.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n After beating the Republic of Ireland, the co-hosts suffered a shock 3-2 loss to Nigeria on Thursday to leave them facing a battle to reach the last 16.<\/span><\/p>\n “We won’t get confirmation (on her fitness) until the night before the game,” said coach Tony Gustavsson.<\/span><\/p>\n “It might even be where we need to test her to see if she can play on game day. That’s how tight it is.<\/span><\/p>\n “She’s going to do anything she can to be out there. I know that she’ll want to be out there and she deserves to be out there.”<\/span><\/p>\n Kerr, Australia’s record goalscorer, watched from the sidelines in Brisbane as her side took the lead against Nigeria, only for the Super Falcons to fight back and silence the home crowd.<\/span><\/p>\n The result leaves the Matildas in third place in Group B and needing a victory over Olympic champions Canada at 11:00 BST in Melbourne on Monday to guarantee a place in the knockout stages.<\/span><\/p>\n “If she’s available we’re going to need to come up with a plan together to see what we can do to maximise the potential minutes she has – if she’s available,” added Gustavsson.<\/span><\/p>\n Australia had a shortage of attacking options against Nigeria with <\/span>Mary Fowler missing the game with concussion,<\/span><\/a> while Tottenham striker Kyah Simon is recovering from a long-term knee ligament injury and is yet to feature at the tournament.<\/span><\/p>\n However, Gustavsson insisted he was happy with side’s attacking display despite the result.<\/span><\/p>\n “We had 28 shots, scored two goals, the attacking game was much, much improved compared to the Ireland game.<\/span><\/p>\n “I’m disappointed about the result but I can’t let the result blind the performance.<\/span><\/p>\n