Wales boss Rhian Wilkinson says the burden of expectation sits with Gemma Grainger's Norway as a World Cup place goes on the line in December.
The mind games have started early. Rhian Wilkinson believes the weight of expectation will fall on Norway when they meet Wales in the Women's World Cup play-off final in December.
Wilkinson's argument is simple. Norway are the higher-profile nation with the bigger pedigree, and Gemma Grainger's side will be expected to get the job done. That makes them the team with more to lose in a one-off showdown with a World Cup place at stake.
There is a personal angle too. Grainger knows the Welsh setup well, which adds an extra layer to a tie already loaded with tension. Wilkinson has been keen to keep the focus on her own squad, though, and on what they can control when the whistle blows.
Play-off finals tend to turn on small margins: one set piece, one mistake, one moment of nerve. If Wales can stay loose and Norway tighten up under the expectation, Wilkinson's words could end up looking like a smart opening move.
December can't come soon enough. A World Cup berth is up for grabs, and both camps know the pressure will only grow as kick-off approaches.
