On paper this match-up pits together two sides at very different stages.
Western Sydney Wanderers v Brisbane Roar
Sunday 1 December 2013
Marconi Stadium, Sydney
Local kick-off: 3pm
On paper this match-up pits together two sides at very different stages. Western Sydney Wanderers are suffering with a major injury crisis, one that has five Westfield Matildas on the sidelines for varying lengths of time, and coach Steve Roach struggling to fill out a full teamsheet. By contrast, Brisbane Roar are at full strength and have welcomed back no less than nine players from national team duty this week.
The Wanderers though, much like their male counterparts, have proven themselves to be resilient. They fought back for a share of the spoils in the opener against Adelaide, and then held Canberra to just a two-goal defeat despite being outplayed for lengthy periods. However, the Wanderers have been boosted by the eleventh hour arrival of USA youth international Camille Levin whose experience will enhance the stability of the backline.
Belinda Wilson-s Roar have no such worries, and they appeared back to their devastating best a fortnight ago dispensing with Perth Glory 3-0 in their last outing. So too, a host of players showed their qualities over the past week for the Westfield Matildas, in particular Tameka Butt, Elise Kellond-Knight, Clare Polkinghorne and Kim Carroll. The Roar expect to have German goalkeeping icon Nadine Angerer return between the sticks after exiting the match early in Perth with a strained muscle.
Western Sydney Wanderers squad: 2. Caitlin Cooper, 3. Shawna Gordon, 4. Camille Levin, 5. Emily Van Egmond (C), 6. Rachael Soutar, 9. Jenna Kingsley, 11. Michelle Carney, 12. Jessica Seaman, 13. Catherine Cannuli, 15. Teigen Allen, 16. Linda O-Neill, 18. Helen Petinos, 20. Georgia Rowntree (GK), 22. Dimi Poulos (GK), 23. Renee Tomkins
Ins: Renee Tomkins (Marconi Stallions), Camille Levin (Gothenburg, Sweden)
Outs: Tori Huster (knee) Jordan Baker (injured)
Unavailable: Mackenzie Arnold (gk) (injured), Heather Garriock (injured), Tori Huster (knee), Servet Uzunlar (awaiting international clearance), Alanna Kennedy (injured), Kyah Simon (knee – season)
Brisbane Roar squad: 1. Nadine ANGERER (gk), 2. Laura ALLEWAY, 3. Amy CHAPMAN, 4. Clare POLKINGHORNE, 5. Brooke SPENCE, 6. Joanne BURGESS, 7. Kim CARROLL, 8. Elise KELLOND-KNIGHT, 9. Larissa CRUMMER, 10. Katrina GORRY, 11. Vedrana POPOVIC, 12. Erika ELZE, 13. Tameka BUTT, 14. Natasha WHEELER, 15. Brooke GOODRICH, 16. Hayley RASO, 18. Sunny FRANCO, 19. Ayesha NORRIE, 20. Kate STEWART (gk) (four to be omitted)
Ins: Joanne BURGESS, Erika ELZE, Sunny FRANCO, Brooke GOODRICH (all promoted)
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: Emily GIELNIK (injured)
Join the conversation on Twitter using #wleague
