Sydney FC will be warm favourites but the recent transfer of the match to Campbelltown will perhaps leave the Sky Blues flirting with memories of defensive nightmares of Lisa De Vanna’s last visit.
Sydney FC v Newcastle Jets
Saturday 31 December
Campbelltown Stadium, Sydney
Local kick-off: 3pm
Live: ABC TV
Sydney FC will be warm favourites on paper but the recent transfer of the match to Campbelltown will perhaps leave the Sky Blues flirting with memories of defensive nightmares on the last two occasions Lisa De Vanna visited.
The Jets speedster returns after a one-match suspension and will be hoping to reprise her match-winner performances for Brisbane Roar against Sydney in the grand final at the same venue and prior to that, in the last New Year-s round.
Nevertheless, the form book says Sydney should start with confidence having easily dispatched the Jets with a 4-1 scoreline just six weeks ago. While the last time the Sky Blues took the field at home they famously routed Perth Glory with a record breaking 11-0 scoreline.
Last year-s player of the year Kyah Simon will be in the running for a first start this season after a lengthy return from injury, however on the debit side fullback Servet Uzunlar sits out the match with suspension.
With a four-point margin separating the Jets and a finals berths the visitors have little margin for error. However they will take confidence after returning to winning ways with victory just prior to Christmas against Perth Glory in a postponed fixture. The match did prove costly for Hannah Brewer who was dismissed and forced to sit this one out.
