06-01-bne-canRound 12 of Season Five was the last time Brisbane Roar met Canberra United with finals football on the line for the visitors.   The home team were on song for a 5-1 whitewash in very hot and humid conditions.

A hattrick from Tameka Butt made the Roar's victory look effortless as they booked themselves a well-earned place in Season Five's Semi Final.

Although there have been quite a number of changes to Season Six Roar line-up, the nucleus group of the established senior players remain.

Add in some exciting new local talent from the Young Matildas and European superstar goalkeeper Nadine Angerer, and the Brisbane based team has left Head Coach, Belinda Wilson, with a very good dilemma; unbelievable depth to choose her starting 11 from.

Canberra United have also undergone plenty of key changes to their usual line-up.  The big one is the appointment of former Dutch international and qualified UEFA A-Licence holder Liesbeth Migchelsen as their new Head Coach. With the injection of some quality internationals, coupled with Canberra's customary solid performers including Ellie Brush, Sally Shiphard, Caitlin Munoz and the Sykes twins, will make for a much anticipated roll-out of Canberra's Season Six.

The scene is set for an entertaining season opener to begin both team's campaigns.

Wilson will be mainly focusing on her own team's game plan for the match and how well the girls follow through towards their outcome objectives.  Meanwhile Migchelsen is looking forward to seeing all the experiences of her native Canberra players mix it up with the confidence and footballing experience from their internationals.

In the last match up, Brisbane held 65% possession and had twice the amount of shots on goal as Canberra.  As the new season begins, both teams have wiped the slates clean and are expecting fireworks between Season Four's two Grand Finalists.

Head to Head: Played 12, Brisbane 6, Canberra 2, draws 4

Saturday 9 November 2013

AJ Kelly Fields, Brisbane

Local kick-off: 3pm (4pm AEDT)

Brisbane Roar squad: 1. Nadine ANGERER (gk), 2. Laura ALLEWAY, 3. Amy CHAPMAN, 4. Clare POLKINGHORNE, 5. Brooke SPENCE, 6. Joanne BURGESS, 7. Kim CARROLL, 8. Elise KELLOND-KNIGHT, 9. Larissa CRUMMER, 10. Katrina GORRY, 11. Vedrana POPOVIC, 12. Erika ELZE, 13. Tameka BUTT, 14. Natasha WHEELER, 15. Brooke GOODRICH, 16. Hayley RASO, 17. Emily GIELNIK, 18. Sunny FRANCO, 19. Ayesha NORRIE, 20. Kate STEWART (gk) (five to be omitted)

Canberra United squad: 1. Lydia WILLIAMS, 2. Catherine BROWN, 4. Kendall FLETCHER, 5. Grace FIELD, 6. Caitlin MUNOZ, 7. Ellie BRUSH, 8. Meg McLAUGHLIN, 9. Grace GILL, 11. Michelle HEYMAN, 12. Sally ROJAHN, 13. Nicole SYKES, 14. Ashleigh SYKES, 16. Lori LINDSEY, 19. Jennifer BISSET, 20. Trudy BURKE, 22. Stephanie OCHS (one to be omitted)

Unavailable: 3. Georgia YEOMAN-DALE (illness), 15. Sally SHIPARD (injured), 17. Holly HOUSTON (hamstring)