Canberra United will look to secure a home semi-final when they take on Victory this weekend
Canberra United have the opportunity to secure a home semi-final this weekend when they welcome Melbourne Victory to McKellar Park.
United need to bounce back from a 1-0 loss to Western Sydney Wanderers last weekend that scuppered their chance to go to the top of the Westfield W-League table.
A number of other results helped keep United in second spot rather than dropping, however the team knows that they need to bounce back this weekend.
Ellie Brush returns to the squad this weekend after time out with a knee injury, and will have the chance to make her 100th Westfield W- League appearance for Canberra United.
The last time these sides met was in a tense clash at AAMI Park in December, with United just pulling out a victory in the dying minutes.
Victory have shown an improvement in form since then however, including a 2-0 derby victory over Melbourne City just weeks ago and a big win over Brisbane Roar as well.
This is sure to be a tough encounter, with Victory striker Natasha Dowie in imperious form, and not one for United to take lightly.
With United’s finals scenario resting on the outcome, the Victory will be only too happy to spoil the party.
Canberra United squad: 1.Trudy BURKE (gk), 2.Yukari KINGA, 4.Clare HUNT, 5.Jenna McCORMICK, 7.Ellie BRUSH, 8.Hayley RASO, 9.Jasmyne SPENCER, 10.Grace MAHER, 12.Hannah BREWER, 13.Celeste BOUREILLE, 14.Ashley SYKES, 15.Emma CHECKER, 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), 7.Ellie BRUSH (return from injury)
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: 11.Michelle HEYMAN (ankle – 2-3 weeks)
Melbourne Victory squad: 2.Alexandra NATOLI, 5.Alexandra GUMMER, 6.Annabel MARTIN, 7.Lia PRIVITELLI, 8.Ayesha NORRIE, 9.Natasha DOWIE, 10.Christine NAIRN (c), 11.MelindaJ BARBIERI, 13.Laura SPIRANOVIC, 15.Adriana TARANTO, 16.Samantha JOHNSON, 17.Gulcan KOCA, 19.Rachel ALONSO, 20.Bethany MASON-JONES (gk), 24.Kirsty YALLOP, 25.Kariah WHITE, 30.Emily KENSHOLE (gk)
**two to be omitted**
Ins: 19.Rachel ALONSO (promoted), 24.Kirsty YALLOP (promoted), 30.Emily KENSHOLE (gk) (promoted)
Outs: 1.Bianca HENNINGER (gk) (international duty)
Unavailable: 4.Melissa TARANTO (knee – season), 14.Selin KURALAY (knee – season)
