Canberra, on the back of an unprecedented four-match winning streak, have raced to a five-point lead at the summit and are playing with ever-increasing confidence. The attacking trio of Michelle Heyman, Taryn Hemmings and Ashleigh Sykes, backed by the midfield guile of Caitlin Munoz, are creating an enormous number of goalscoring opportunities each week. Remarkably a win here will go close to sealing a finals berth, with just 15 points needed last year to seal fourth.
Newcastle will arrive in the nation’s capital on the back of three very different performances. An opening demolition of Adelaide United, gave way to a late comeback victory against Brisbane, before the Jets crashed 4-1 at home last weekend against a rampant Sydney FC.
Star forward Lisa De Vanna, who came off at half-time following a heavy collision with Sydney goalkeeper Allison Lipsher, is expected to return to the fray. An intriguing sub-plot will be the return of Jets’ midfield ace Emily van Egmond to her former home ground.
Canberra United v Newcastle Jets
Saturday 19 November 2011
McKellar Park, Canberra
Local kick-off: 3pm
Live: ABC TV
Canberra United squad: 1. Lydia WILLIAMS (gk), 2. Caitlin COOPER, 3. Georgia YEOMAN-DALE, 4. Christine WALTERS, 5. Kahlia HOGG, 6. Caitlin MUNOZ, 7. Ellie BRUSH, 8. Hayley RASO, 9. Grace GILL, 10. Snez VELJANOVSKA, 11. Michelle HEYMAN, 12. Sally ROJAHN, 13. Nicole SYKES, 14. Ashleigh SYKES, 15. Sally SHIPARD, 16. Ellyse EPERRY, 18. Taryn HEMMINGS, 19. Jennifer BISSET, 20. Aroon CLANSEY (gk)
*four to be omitted
Unavailable: Leah Blayney (injured)
Newcastle Jets squad: 1.Melissa BARBIERI (gk), 2.Hannah BREWER, 3.Alanna KENNEDY, 4.Gemma PEARCE, 5.Alex HUYNH, 6.Nicola BOLGER, 7.Gema SIMON, 8.Linda O'NEILL, 9.Tara ANDREWS, 10.Emily VAN EGMOND, 11.Lisa DE VANNA, 12.Monnique KOFOED, 13.Stacey DAY, 14.Bronte BATES, 15.Rhali DOBSON, 16.Cassandra KOPPEN, 17.Ariane HINGST (c), 20.Alison LOGUE (gk)
*three to be omitted
Unavailable: nil