Credit: Getty Images Credit: Getty Images

Round 9 will see 5th place Adelaide United take on 1st place and undefeated Sydney FC on the brand new home ground for the Lady Reds.

At 8pm (ADCT) the first of many W-League games will be played on the world class turf pitch as The Adelaide Shores Football Complex opens its doors for the first time to host this match.

Sydney FC will be on a high after thumping Brisbane Roar 4 – 0 last Sunday with  a brace from Jodie Taylor and a goal a piece to Leena Khamis and Emma Kete.

Brisbane started the game off well but the star quality of Sydney shone through  in the 10 minute mark of the game and powered on for the remainder.

Teresa Polias, a standout in the middle of the park once again for the Sky Blue team, earned the Player of the Week honours for her commanding performance.

Even following Sydney's tough mid week game against Western Sydney Wanderers, they still came out with the goods and took all three points to sit them in good stead for the upcoming finals.

Adelaide United had a disappointing loss to Canberra United over in the nation's capital. After defeating them at home only two weeks prior, Canberra came out with intent, keen to ensure that result did not occur again.

This time they made sure of their passing and Ashleigh Sykes was on fire out-running most of Adelaide’s defenders. Michelle Heyman, Stephanie Ochs and Ashleigh Sykes all scoring goals to give the Lady Reds their biggest loss this season.

Once again Melissa Barbieri made sure that the loss wasn’t the score of previous years and prevented numerous goals going in between the posts. Adelaide did have their shots on goals but Lydia Williams confidently handled their efforts.

This Friday night will test the Lady Reds once again as Sydney look to remain undefeated.

Will Sydney go into the game too confident? Will they make the same mistake that Canberra did in the first game of this year?

Maybe not, but who knows what the Lady Reds are capable of?

If LisaMarie Woods and Laura Stockdale can shut down Polias, Leena Khamis and Nicola Bolger  in the midfield and Jenna McCormick and Alexandra Gummer can contain one or two of the quick Sky Blue forwards, they just might be able to hold on. They will need to make the most of their chances though in front of the goals.

Adelaide’s pressing this year has been remarkable and well formulated. They will need to bring the intensity that was missing last week and continue the pressure on the Sydney back line.

This is their best chance of employing the counter attacking game plan that has worked so well.  However, with only 8 goals scored in this season to the 30 that Sydney has scored, the Lady Reds will need to take their chances against Sydney stopper Casey Dumont.

Sydney on the other hand will be looking for more of the same.  Their combinations in the midfield and attack have been a treat while their defence has rarely been beaten.  

Adelaide has proven they can take it for the full 90 minutes; can they do it again this week?

So many questions that will be answered this Friday night with the result having a bearing on the Top Four.  

The last time these two sides met was in Adelaide where Sydney FC dismantled Adelaide United 4-0 with Renee Rollason, Emma Kete and Chloe Logarzo doing the damage.

Make sure you are following @thewomensgame on twitter for all the updates on the game. Or come down to The Shores to watch this history making match.

Head to Head: Played 8, Adelaide 1, Sydney 7

Adelaide United v Sydney FC

Friday 24 January 2014

The Shores, Adelaide

Local kick-off: 8pm (8.30pm AEDT) 

Adelaide United squad: 1. Melissa BARBIERI (gk), 3. Alexandra GUMMER, 6. Laura STOCKDALE, 7. Rachael QUIGLEY, 8. Emily CONDON, 9. Lisa-Marie WOODS, 10. Monique IANNELLA, 12. Daila TAIS-BORG, 14. Jayah BROWN, 15. Jenna McCORMICK, 16. Jessica WATERHOUSE, 17. Tiarn POWELL, 20. Kelly BARLTROP (gk), 21. Snez VELJANOVSKA 23. Kristy MOORE (c)

Unavailable: 2. Bianca GRAY (knee - season)

Sydney FC squad: Casey Dumont (gk), Alesha Clifford, Danielle Brogan (c), Amy Harrison, Caitlin Foord, Teresa Polias, Liz Ralston, Nicola Bolger, Renee Rollason, Jodie Taylor, Emma Kete, Leena Khamis, Trudy Camilleri, Sam Kerr, Chloe Logarzo, Sham Khamis (gk)

Ins: Trudy Camilleri (promoted)

Unavailable: Ellyse Perry (cricket commitments), Anna Green (Achilles – three weeks), Natalie Tobin (illness – three weeks)