Canberra United are at home to Brisbane Roar in the Saturday evening match of Round 4 of the W-League.

Both teams are pressing for the top four, with Canberra falling to fourth place last weekend following their 4-2 loss to Melbourne Victory.

Brisbane picked up their first points of the season last weekend with a win over the improving Newcastle Jets 3-1.

Canberra will be concentrating firmly on their own game to win them this match over long term rivals Brisbane Roar. United Coach Lizz Michgelsen has every right to place full confidence in her side that is a title favourite yet again this year, and repeated her philosophy this week that Canberra can beat any other in the league.

The backline will be smarting from letting four past them, a rare scoreline for this well disciplined team. Brisbane will need to contain flankers Ash Sykes and Steph Ochs, and win the ball from the imposing Caitlin Munoz and diminutive Lori Lindey in the midfield if they are to get the upper hand.

Last week, Victory unlocked United’s defence and showed the rest of the field the way to goal, but Canberra are likely to have sealed any such gaps at training this week.

Brisbane Roar are back to their winning ways after picking up three valuable points against the Newcastle Jets after suffering early season defeats to Perth Glory and Sydney FC.

The Roar welcomed FIFA player of the year Nadine Angerer back into the side, good timing against an improved and potent Jets line up.

Caitlin Munoz was classy in midfield in her team’s loss to Melbourne, and she will need another strong performance today to drive the Canberra United machine to a win.

Last week, speedsters Nicole Begg and Ashleigh Sykes combined well at pace down the left flank for Canberra as did Sally Rojahn and Stephanie Ochs down the right.

In Canberra’s attacking third, they will need to make Brisbane work harder, as they gifted Melbourne easy possession too often last weekend. Canberra United is still without Grace Maher who is in Malaysia with the u/17 Australian side, and who is yet to make her debut.

Rookie Julia de Angelis saw more game time last week in a deep midfield position, and looked very comfortable on the ball.

Brisbane brings a strong line up to McKellar Park to attempt to counter United on the rebound from last week’s defeat.

Roar’s goalscorers against the Jets, Emily Gielnik and former United player Hayley Raso, like to find the net at McKellar, and combined well last week after a slow start to the season.

It will be a battle royale for either team just to get a shot on goals, with Clare Polkinghorne holding the backline together, and Tameka Butt, Elise Kellond-Knight, and Katrina ‘Mini’ Gorrie in flight for Brisbane Roar through the midfield.

On the last occasion they met the Roar midfield were able to strangle the midfield and prevent supply to Canberra's pace attack. The Roar will look to perform the same number on the United midfield while finding their own in form strikers.

The keepers will relish any opportunity to get their hands on the ball though. Canberra were the first to breach Nadine Angerer’s clutches in her debut game W-League match last season, running away with a 3-0 win, and they will look to get the jump on Angerer again this evening.

At the other end, Chantel Jones will look to clear the slate and protect a clean sheet after a tough day between the posts last round.

In their last match, Brisbane took the points in the rain-drenched semi final after Canberra had finished on top of the table.

While Brisbane went on to be beaten by Melbourne in the grand final, their consistent ball control in the wet and surges towards goal at McKellar saw them get over the top of United. It’s a dry track for tonight’s match. Let the game begin.

Canberra United v Brisbane Roar

Saturday 4 October 2014

McKellar Park, Canberra

Local kick-off: 5pm

Join the conversation on Twitter using match hashtag #CBRvBRI

Canberra United squad: 1. Chantel JONES, 2. Catherine BROWN, 3. Julia DE ANGELIS, 5. Grace FIELD, 6. Caitlin MUNOZ, 7. Ellie BRUSH, 9. Grace GILL, 11. Michelle HEYMAN, 12. Sally ROJAHN, 13. Nicole BEGG, 14. Ashleigh SYKES, 16. Lori LINDSEY, 18. Rebecca KITING, 20. Melissa MAIZELS (gk), 22. Stephanie OCHS

Unavailable: Kendall FLETCHER (overseas), Meg McLAUGHLIN (knee – 4-6 weeks), Grace MAHER (Australia U-17s)

Brisbane Roar squad: 1. Nadine ANGERER, 2. Laura ALLEWAY, 4. Clare POLKINGHORNE (c), 5. Brooke SPENCE, 6. Hayley RASO, 7. Kim CARROLL, 8. Elise KELLOND-KNIGHT, 9. Larissa CRUMMER, 10. Katrina GORRY, 11. Vedrana POPOVIC, 13. Tameka BUTT, 14. Natasha WHEELER, 15. Brooke GOODRICH, 16. Angela BEARD, 17. Emily GIELNIK, 20. Kate STEWART (gk)

Ins: Natasha Wheeler, Brooke Goodrich (both promoted)

Outs: Ayesha Norrie (omitted)