PHOTO: Can Melbourne win their maiden W-League championship? | Credit: Joseph Mayers Photography 

When the Melbourne Victory kicked of their season with a devastating 5-1 loss to Season Five champions Sydney FC, few would have hand-on-their-heart believed that they would be there on the final day of the season.

Let alone hosting the main event for the second season running.

That they are here speaks to the strength of the group and the brilliance of several individuals.

It is also thanks to a long seven game unbeaten streak that found Melbourne comfortably qualifying for the finals series.

Despite finishing third, the Victory have been fairly consistent, bar that opening weekend drumming, they have rarely tasted crushing defeats or rarely won extravagantly.

Melbourne's record this season against their fellow Top 4 competitors has been modest but last week, when it counted, they put on their best performance of the season.

Against a foe they have yet to vanquish in their W-League existence, they will again have to turn it on when it counts.

Kryptonite

They say you have to lose one to win one and the Victory will be looking make that adage true.  

Despite many members of this squad present on the final day in Season Five, only Lisa De Vanna has claimed a championship.  In direct contrast Brisbane have nine championship winners, oh and another player has a lazy 2 World Cups and 5 European Championships.

How they react to the big occasion will be key to how the Victory approach this match. Will we see the side that suffered a case of stage fright in 2013 or the side that took it up Sydney FC and beat them at their own game.

Key Players

Emma Checker and Jessica Humble (Defenders)

While their other defensive teammates have experienced high level football  regularly, this is the biggest match of their careers to date for centre back Checker and Humble.

Last week they kept the normally potent Sydney FC forwardline quiet with Humble even moving up to score her first W-League goal.  They will be required to do the same job on Brisbane's most dangerous including Tameka Butt, Emily Gielnik and Hayley Raso to name a couple.

Jessica Fishlock (Midfielder)

What Melbourne have this season that they didn't last grand final is the talismanic Fishlock. While she is down as a midfielder, the Wales captain is much more versatile than that.  

In the semi final she played as a false nine with devastating effect; playing in and linking with Lisa De Vanna while scoring or setting up goals herself.  

She is the key.

Lisa De Vanna (Forward)

While not scoring goals, De Vanna has been in great form of late. The last time these two sides met, she terrorised the Brisbane defence with only bad luck preventing her from scoring on that occasion.

In the semi final she again caused consternation at the back and was crucial to Melbourne's forward line.

De Vanna is the only Victory player to have known championship glory with her win in 2011 with the Roar.  In that final she scored the match winner for the underdog Brisbane and Victory will be hoping she can do the same.

Melbourne Victory v Brisbane Roar

Sunday 23 February 2014

Lakeside Stadium, Melbourne

Kick-off: 3pm

* Catch all the action Live* at 3.00pm nationally on ABC1. Or catch up from Monday on ABC iView with a full replay at 3.30am on Thursday (*live in AEDT states)

International fans listen into Victory W-League Live Radio at www.livecast.com.au from 2.30pm for pre-game

Melbourne Victory squad: 1. Brianna Davey (gk) 3. Jessica Humble 4. Katie Hoyle 5. Laura Spiranovic 7. Stephanie Catley (c) 9. Caitlin Friend 10. Jess Fishlock 11. Lisa De Vanna 12. Jessica Samuelsson 15. Emma Checker 16. Beattie Goad 17. Gulcan Koca, 18. Emily Hulbert, 19. Alexandra Natoli, 20. Cassie Dimovski (gk) 21. Ella Mastrantonio 22. Lauren Barnes (one to be omitted)

Ins: Katie Hoyle (returns from New Zealand international duty) 

Unavailable: Ashley Brown (knee – season)