Joe Montemurro's side will meet Japan in Saturday's Women's Asian Cup final at Sydney's Accor Stadium in a game that offers the Matildas their best shot at silverware since an inspired run to the semi-finals of the 2023 World Cup.
The likes of Chelsea star Carpenter, fellow defender Steph Catley, Emily van Egmond, Caitilin Foord and skipper Sam Kerr have formed the backbone of the Matildas squad over the past decade, where major tournaments have always ended in heartache.
Of Montemurro's current squad, only Kerr has won the Asian Cup when the now-superstar striker was a fresh-faced teen in the 2010 triumph over North Korea.
"When can I say that I'll have another final in Australia to win a major tournament? Never, probably," said 25-year-old Carpenter on Friday.
"So this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for us and most of the girls … I've been in this team for 10 years and haven't lifted a trophy."
Japan - ranked No.8 in the world - are likely to have a big say as to whether Carpenter, Kerr and co are holding silverware aloft come fulltime on Saturday night.
The Japanese have pulverised their opponents with a ruthlessness rarely seen at international level, scoring 28 goals, conceding just one and warming up for the final with a 4-1 hammering of South Korea in the semis.
But vice-captain Carpenter appears unfazed, insisting Australia - who are ranked 15th in the world by FIFA - have the firepower to match Japan.
"We have world-class players playing at the best clubs in the world," Carpenter said.
"I don't think we should disrespect that and go into this game scared whatsoever.
"Japan is a great team, a world-class side, but I think for us we can match that. We're ready to be out there and to fight and to believe and to get the job done."
Japan thrashed Australia 4-0 in their most recent meeting in last February's SheBelieves Cup.
Interim coach Tom Sermanni at the time branded the performance "un-Australian" but Carpenter is adamant there will be no repeat.
"We've grown so much since then," the right back said.
"We obviously didn't go down the route we wanted (by finishing second in the group) but in the end it's the better route for us where we've had some tough games against North Korea, China.
"That's set us up well and we really have that momentum and that never-say-die attitude.
"I think we needed to see that fight again within the team."
Carpenter was asked to attend Friday's pre-match press conference in place of Kerr.
The absence of Australia's talismanic captain and leading all-time goalscorer raised eyebrows given Kerr missed large chunks of the 2023 World Cup campaign with injury.
But Montemurro insisted there was no concerns as Kerr looks to lead Australia to a first Asian Cup crown in 16 years.
"Sam's done a lot of press and we like to share the love with all of that," Montemurro said.
"Sam's fine. Everything's fine and we're all ready to go.
"I'm so happy for her and proud of her because she has really shown why she's such a world-class player at this tournament."
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