Indore, Oct 24 (NationPress) Australia is poised to make a last-minute decision regarding the participation of their regular captain Alyssa Healy in the crucial league stage matchup against South Africa, scheduled at Holkar Stadium this Saturday, as stated by the acting captain Tahlia McGrath.

Alyssa was absent during Wednesday's victory over England due to a calf injury sustained during training on October 18. However, she resumed light training on Friday, indicating positive signs for her potential return as the reigning champions gear up for the tournament's decisive phase.

"(Healy) is training today... We haven't finalized an XI yet, but she's still a bit of a day-by-day situation, and we'll see how that evolves. I truly enjoyed (captaining) the England match... I certainly had to pay closer attention in meetings and remain more alert, but I relished the chance to lead and appreciated collaborating with Ash (Gardner)."

"She was incredibly helpful in stepping into that vice-captain role, and we're fortunate to have such strong support within the Australian squad, with bowlers diligently executing their plans. It was a seamless transition, but as much as I enjoyed it, I'm eager for Midge to return as soon as possible," Tahlia conveyed to reporters on Friday.

With a place in the semi-finals already secured, Australia may adopt a cautious strategy regarding Alyssa's comeback, especially considering the semi-finals are set for October 29 and 30 in Guwahati and Navi Mumbai, respectively. This Saturday's clash against South Africa will be pivotal in determining Australia's final ranking in the round-robin phase.

Australia is also managing left-arm spinner Sophie Molineux's workload prudently, as she has yet to play consecutive matches following her recovery from knee surgery. If the rotation persists, Molineux might be replaced by leg-spinner Georgia Wareham in Saturday’s final round-robin encounter against South Africa in the Women’s ODI World Cup.

"That's a good question – but it's one for the physiotherapists. The most gratifying aspect for me is that she's made a significant impact in this World Cup. She's a key player, and it's been fantastic to see how influential she's been for us despite having limited cricket leading up to this point."

"She's put in tremendous effort to be part of this World Cup... so whether it's against South Africa or in the finals, she's already been a pivotal player for us, and she will continue to be throughout the tournament. It's been wonderful to witness her success," Tahlia added.