Photo reveals where Sam Kerr is at in her battle to be fit for Denmark game as important detail about superstar striker’s training regime comes to light

• e-mail

Sam Kerr spent Friday's training session on an exercise bike wearing sneakers instead of football boots, but Matildas officials insist it is part and parcel of her preparation to get back onto the pitch against Denmark.

And in a boost for the Matildas, defender Charlotte Grant has been cleared to play on Monday night despite suffering delayed concussion.

Kerr missed all three group matches for Australia, although officials named her on the bench for the final do-or-die clash against Canada and were ready to deploy her if desperate.

Australia's thumping 4-0 win over Canada meant Kerr was not required and gave the Matildas skipper an extra six days to get her troublesome calf right for Denmark.

Previously Kerr has been limited to walking laps of the training pitch because of her injury. 

Kerr was relegated to an exercise bike at training on Friday but Matildas officials insist it is not a setback and it all part of the plan

The Matildas trained at the Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre without their injured skipper Kerr on Friday

The players took part in some tough drills ahead of their Women's World Cup round of 16 knockout match against Denmark on Monday

There were encouraging signs at the Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre on Thursday, though, when Kerr was seen doing ball work with teammates.

The fact she was back on an exercise bike on Friday may look like a setback, but Matildas officials told reporters it was 'all part of the plan' and goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold confirmed it was part of Kerr's specialised program.  

'She has her own individual plan that she's doing with the doctor and physio, getting her ready to join in with the team,' Arnold said.

'What she had to do, she looked like she was quite comfortable doing it, and she was in high spirits after the [session]. So I assumed it all went well.'

Even if Kerr is available for the Denmark clash on Monday, it is unlikely she will be able to play out the entire match because of her injury.

Her exact role will be kept under wraps for as long as possible, but Arnold said the rest of the squad had proved they have the firepower to blow Denmark off the pitch with or without their star forward.

'The world has now seen what we can do,' Arnold said. 

'We always want Sam on the field and she's a world-class striker, but we've shown now that we have the depth and we can play any combination up front that we can still score goals. 

'If she plays, she plays, if she doesn't, she doesn't. But we have our plan.' 

Goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold (pictured celebrating with Kerr after beating Canada) said the Matildas have shown they can beat the world's best even without their biggest star

Defender Charlotte Grant suffered delayed concussion after the Canada match but will be fit to take her place against Denmark

Matildas defender Clare Polkinghorne added: 'She's been superb through it all.

'She always puts the team before herself, so right from the beginning, she's been our biggest supporter and always helping out where she can.

'While she hasn't been able to help on the field yet, she's definitely still a massive part of this team and it has definitely helped us get to where we are.

'We're really looking forward to having her back.'

While firepower might not be a problem, Australia will need to be on alert in defence against a potent Denmark forward line including Paris Saint-Germain's Amalie Vangsgaard and Bayern Munich star Pernille Harder.

Fortunately, Grant will be fit to play after concussion protocols ruled her out of Matildas training until Friday.