Heatley looms as a key player in the Matildas' quest for Asian Cup glory, and she is a strong chance to be thrust into the heart of defence for Sunday's opening clash with the Philippines at Optus Stadium.
The 24-year-old has already become accustomed to success at domestic level.
During her three-season stint at Danish club FC Nordsjælland, Heatley won the 2023/24 league title and back-to-back Danish Cup trophies.
And with her current club Roma sitting six points clear on top of the Serie A Women's table with 15 of 22 games already completed, there is a good chance Heatley will end up with more silverware soon.
But things at international level haven't been as easy.
Heatley was an unused standby player for the Paris Olympics, and she has notched just 13 caps since making her debut in a 2-1 friendly win over Germany in October, 2024.
The Women's Asian Cup looms as a big breakout tournament for Heatley, who will be vying with the likes of Alanna Kennedy, Clare Hunt and Steph Catley for centre back positions.
"I've been in a few scenarios over the last few years where I've been on the fringe and on that edge of squads," Heatley said.
"I think it's just taught me to kind of release any sort of feeling of having control over those situations and trying to be at peace with the people in power and their decisions, and trying to control what I have access to, and that's just playing as best I can and improving every day.
"I think in the Olympics, of course, it was one of those situations that's really hard.
"As a player, you want to represent your country at every possible moment, but it's one of those things that's just taught me to bide my time, focus on me and wait."
As for the chance of doing the Women's Asian Cup-Serie A double over the coming months?
"I mean, it would be pretty incredible," said Heatley, who is in tip-top shape after starting in six of Roma's past seven games.
"But you kind of have to take it as it goes and take it game by game.
"Anything can happen in the league and in Serie A in particular, and especially in tournament football.
"So we try and take it game by game with the ultimate goal always in mind, but try not to let it sit on your mind too much."
The pressure of a home tournament is huge.
But Heatley already showed her ability to compartmentalise when she played a part in the Matildas' 5-0 win over NZ last November a week after her step brother died.
"It's not a secret that my step brother passed away at the end of last year, so it's even more special when I play in front of my family at home," Heatley said.
Japan start as tournament favourites, with Australia widely tipped to be their main challenger.
North Korea, China and South Korea are also considered big threats.
Australian superstars Sam Kerr and Mary Fowler were among the big-name Matildas players present during the warm-up on Thursday before media were barred from the rest of the training session.
Kerr spent 18 months on the sidelines with an ACL injury before returning in September.
Fowler suffered her own ACL tear in April last year, but has declared herself ready to go for the Asian Cup after getting through two appearances for Manchester City this month.
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