Leaders Melbourne Victory against winless Newcastle Jets seems a one-sided contest on paper but the Westfield W-League is invariably full of surprises.
Newcastle Jets v Melbourne Victory Saturday 25 January 2014 Adamstown Oval, Newcastle Local kick-off: 11am
Leaders Melbourne Victory against winless Newcastle Jets seems a one-sided contest on paper but the Westfield W-League is invariably full of surprises.
The two sides played out a lopsided contest earlier in the campaign when the Victory hit half a dozen unanswered goals for a club-record scoreline.
History too does not favour the Jets with the Victory-s record against the Novocastrians being one of the few remaining head-to-head undefeated records in the competition.
The Jets, however, have shown what they lack in experience they partly make up for in youthful enthusiasm.
They were desperately unlucky not to earn the first points of the campaign last week with a 3-2 loss at Perth Glory.
Perth-s rally from two goals down did continue a trend for the Jets who have conceded a host of second-half goals this season.
Melbourne Victory, for their part, will be eager to bounce back after surrendering sole control of top spot when they conceded a late equaliser against Western Sydney Wanderers last weekend.
The Victory squad has once again been strengthened in the form of experienced American guest player Lauren Barnes.
The arrival of the defender - a former USA youth international who plays for Seattle Reign - is perfectly timed in that it coincides with the injury to key stopper Emma Checker.
Newcastle Jets squad: 1. Eliza Campbell (gk), 2. Hannah Brewer, 3. Stacey Day, 4. Siahn Bozanic, 5. Ciara McCormick, 6. Ashley Spina, 7. Gema Simon, 9. Tara Andrews, 10. Rhali Dobson, 11. Grace McIntyre, 13, Jasmin Courtenay, 14. Sophie Nenadovic, 14, Libby Copus-Brown, 16. Cassidy Davis, 18. Clare Wheeler, 20. Claire Coelho (gk) (one to be omitted)
Ins: Grace McIntyre (returns from illness), Jasmin Courtenay, Libby Copus-Brown (both promoted)
Outs: Hannah Beard (thigh - one/two weeks), Lauren Brown (omitted)
Unavailable: Maddy Searl (knee - season)
Melbourne Victory squad: 1. Brianna Davey (gk) 3. Jessica Humble 4. Katie Hoyle 7. Stephanie Catley (c) 9. Caitlin Friend 10. Jess Fishlock 11. Lisa De Vanna 12. Jessica Samuelsson 14. Enza Barilla 16. Beattie Goad 17. Gulcan Koca 18. Emily Hulbert 20. Cassie Dimovski (gk) 22. Lauren Brown
Ins: Lauren Barnes (Seattle Reign, USA), Tiffany Eliadis, Emily Hulbert (both promoted)
Outs: Emma Checker (knee), Laura Spiranovic, Cindy Lay (both omitted)
Unavailable: Ashley Brown (knee - season), Alex Natoli (hamstring - one week), Emma Checker (knee - one/three weeks)
Join the conversation on Twitter using #wleague