What a match-up awaits armchair viewers around the country for the opening Fox Sports and ABC TV broadcast match of the Westfield W-League.
Two of the league’s most successful and entertaining sides will take the field on Sunday, each packed with several stars from the Westfield Matildas’ stunning run to the FIFA Women’s World Cup quarter-finals a few months back.
Lining up for Brisbane are Tameka Butt, Clare Polkinghorne and reigning Asian player of the year Katrina Gorry.
On the opposite side are star goalkeeper Lydia Williams, dynamic attacker Ash Sykes and the league’s greatest goalscorer, Michelle Heyman.
The Canberra juggernaught shows little sign of slowing following last year’s impressive grand final win in Perth. The club have arguably strengthened since last season, adding further to a settled side, one that remarkably includes no less than seven foundation players from season one.
However, they may well be without international recruits Kendall Fletcher and Mexican international Veronica Perez, who are both due to touch down in Australia this weekend. In addition, England star forward Jodie Taylor is not set to be available until round four.
Conversely, Brisbane this season field a partly unfamiliar squad after so many years of continuity. Several of their Westfield Matildas stars have exited, and although the core of their team remains impressive, it is the question of squad depth that remains unanswered.
The two sides have played out numerous epic contests – not least of all a memorable 2012 grand final which went in favour of Canberra – and this Sunday is unlikely to be any different.
Brisbane Roar v Canberra United
Sunday 18 October 2015
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Local kick-off: 1pm (2pm AEDT)
(Hyundai A-League double-header)
** Watch all the action Live from 2.00pm nationally on Fox Sports (Channel 505), or ABC TV. Or catch-up on ABC iView.
Join the conversation on Twitter using match hashtag #BRIvCBR
