Stajcic's Philippines prepare for Women's World Cup bow

Ex-Matildas coach Alen Stajcic is guiding the Philippines in their Women's World Cup debut. (Dan Himbrechts/AAP PHOTOS)

Alen Stajcic will aim to write a new chapter in what he describes as "the best achievement" of his coaching career when he leads the Philippines into their maiden Women's World Cup.

Stajcic's Filipinas have been drawn in a tough group with co-hosts New Zealand, one-time winners Norway and world No.20 Switzerland, who they face in their tournament opener in Dunedin on Friday.

If things had worked out differently Stajcic could well have been coaching Australia at this year's tournament.

The 49-year-old was poised to take the team to the 2019 World Cup in France before being controversially sacked by Football Australia amid claims of a "toxic culture" in the Matildas set-up.

Stajcic has always defended his reign as Australia boss, and after a spell with the Central Coast Mariners made the surprise move to take the Philippines job.

On paper, it looked a tough ask.

Boxing, basketball and even beauty pageants are more popular than football in the Philippines but since he has taken charge the Filipinas have risen to a record high of 46th in the world rankings.

"It's been a meteoric sort of rise for the team," Stajcic told media in the Philippines.

"The challenge for us is to somehow maintain and sustain that improvement, not be happy with where we got to."

The Philippines qualified for the World Cup by last year getting to the semi-finals of the Asian Cup for the first time, and Stajcic has been able to tap into the nation's diaspora to bolster the team's depth.

US-born striker Sarina Bolden, who played for the Western Sydney Wanderers last season, and one-time Matildas defender Angie Beard have jumped on board with the lure of a World Cup berth proving too strong to resist.

"When I was trying to decide, I asked myself, 'Do I stay and try working my hardest to even get half a glimpse to be with the US?," Bolden told AAP earlier this year.

"My other thought was to decide on the Philippines, where I have a little bit more of a chance to make an impact and possibly play at a World Cup."

The squad spent the last fortnight in Sydney before moving to their Auckland base and while the odds are stacked against them, they have shown under Stajcic they can take big steps in a short space of time.

"We're going to need a little bit of luck," Stajcic said.

"We're going to have to make our luck, we're going to have to give ourselves every possible chance in our preparation."

Australian Associated Press

Roger Vaughan and Oliver Caffrey

Roger Vaughan and Oliver Caffrey