Sunday’s televised match promises much to savour with a desperate Western Sydney Wanderers side facing up to the in-form Canberra United.
The Wanderers simply must win to keep their play-off hopes alive.
It has been an up-and-down campaign for the Red & Blacks but a victory over champions Melbourne City earlier in the campaign proves they are capable of anything on their day.
Standing in their way are a Canberra side in rare form.
However, history offers little encouragement for the Wanderers. Canberra have never lost against the Wanderers in eight matches.
After a mid-season slump of sorts, Canberra achieved one of the results of the season last weekend with a stunning 7-2 win over Perth Glory.
And in Ash Sykes they boast a player in rare form. After her four-goal haul last weekend, Sykes has now netted nine times in the past five outings.
Now, following a string of indifferent results, it is a case of which Canberra United will turn up on the day.
Having jumped into second they know that a home semi-final is within their grasp. “We’re certainly not taking them lightly,” said Canberra coach Rae Dower.
“We respect all our opponents and we certainly know how we felt after our little blimp against Sydney (a 6-1 win loss in early January).”
Regardless of the final result, it promises to be a gala occasion at Campbelltown Stadium with the match to be followed by the Hyundai A-League meeting between the Wanderers and Newcastle Jets.
Western Sydney Wanderers v Canberra United
Sunday 22 January 2017
Venue: Campbelltown Stadium
Kick-Off: 2:30PM (Local) (2:30PM (AEDT)
Referee: Rachel Mitchenson
TV Broadcast: Live coverage on FOX SPORTS 505 from 2.00pm (AEDT) and ABC TV from 2.00pm (AEDT)
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Western Sydney Wanderers squad: 1.Jada WHYMAN (gk), 2.Caitlin COOPER (c), 3.Nikola ORGILL, 4.Chloe O’BRIEN, 5.Helen PETINOS, 6.Kendall FLETCHER, 7.Sarah YATIM, 8.Erica HALLOWAY, 9.Katie STENGEL, 10.Paige NIELSEN, 11.Georgia PLESSAS, 12.Rachel LOWE, 15.Ellie CARPENTER, 16.Alix ROBERTS, 18.Angelique HRISTODOULOU, 23.Joey BURGESS, 23.Casey DUMONT **two to be omitted**
Ins: 3.Nikola ORGILL (promoted), 4.Chloe O’BRIEN (promoted), 7.Sarah YATIM (promoted), 11.Georgia PLESSAS (promoted)
Outs: 13.Eliza AMMENDOLIA (omitted), 17.Alyssa ROSE (omitted)
Unavailable: Nil
Canberra United squad: 1.Trudy BURKE (gk), 2.Yukari KINGA, 4.Clare HUNT, 5.Jenna McCORMICK, 8.Hayley RASO, 9.Jasmyne SPENCER, 10.Grace MAHER, 12.Hannah BREWER, 13.Celeste BOUREILLE, 14.Ashleigh SYKES (c), 15.Emma CHECKER, 16.Karly ROESTBAKKEN, 18.Kahlia HOGG, 19.Nickoletta FLANNERY, 20.Georgia BORIC (gk), 22.Stephanie OCHS, 32.Lisa DE VANNA **two to be omitted**
Ins: 4.Clare HUNT (promoted), 16.Karly ROESTBAKKEN (promoted)
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: 7.Ellie BRUSH (knee – 1 week), 11.Michelle HEYMAN (ankle – 2-3 weeks)
