In the first of two double headers for the season, Brisbane Roar host the Western Sydney Wanderers at Suncorp Stadium in Round 5 of the W-League.

Both sides are looking to bounce back after disappointing losses in Round 4 with Season 6 grand finalists Roar going down to Canberra United while the Wanderers suffered a club record loss to ladder leaders Perth Glory.

The inconsistencies, in game and in season, continue for the Brisbane Roar with last week's loss to Canberra the latest setback.

It didn't look that way early with Roar up and about early through Katrina Gorry, Emily Gielnik and Hayley Raso. Brooke Spence and Vedrana Popovic provided overlapping runs as the visitors pinned down United early.

Belinda Wilson's side could have easily had two goals in the opening 15 minutes but once Canberra weathered the storm they slowly wrested ascendancy of the contest.

For Brisbane, who even by their standards have had a very slow start to the season (1-3), there is little room to manoeuvre for the rest of the season.

Individually the parts of the Brisbane machine have been sound; Emily Gielnik and Hayley Raso have busy creatively and on the scoreboard, Elise Kellond-Knight has been strong, Katrina Gorry is finding her rhythm and Laura Alleway as solid as ever in defence.

Collectively however, they have yet to really "click", at least not for a full 90 minute performance for consecutive weeks.

Wilson will be looking for that fluency associated with a Roar side as they look to move back up the table.

Last week was a harsh lesson in top flight football for the young Wanderers team as they came up against a ruthless Perth Glory outfit.

Although Norm Boardman's managed to contain the Perth attacking threat for almost 45 minutes, and create some chances of their own, once the floodgates opened there was not enough experience on the park to stem the tide.

The key was the midfield with Glory machine able to take a stranglehold and supply the most potent attack in the league. Youngster Lorena Budgen was a bright spot with the teenagers neat and clever footwork allowing her to occasionally get in behind the Glory defence.

Budgen, Demi Koulizakis and Co will be helped by the return of a number of key players, as will Michelle Carney, Hannah Beard and Helen Petinos. Up front Petinos continues to be the standout striker but she needs more support and opportunities to trouble opposition defences.

Down the back Boardman's side will be under considerable pressure once again with the likes of Raso, Gorry, Butt and Gielnik running at them. It will be a great test of their character and resolve as to how they respond to the events of Round 4.

Both teams will be bolstered by the return of key players. The Roar welcome back striker Amy Chapman who will play her first minutes of 2014 after rehabbing from an ACL suffered later last season.

“Her headspace is that she just wants to play,” Wilson said.

“She’s been ready to play for probably two weeks now but we’ve listened to the physios and medical staff and we’ve just watched her throughout the training."

While Chapman is not expected to see many minutes, the inventive forward could prove useful coming off the bench.

“The runs that she makes - whether that be the unselfish runs or the selfish runs to get the ball - will allow other players around her to just be free to have the ability to have more time and space.”

Wanderers supporters will be happy to see the return of the experienced Keelin Winters and Linda O'Neill in the midfield. Both were sorely missed against a Perth side stacked full of Matildas and, with Brisbane of a similar ilk, their ability to control and anchor the midfield will be vital.

The Roar control their series with 3-1 head to head lead over the Wanderers.  The last time these two sides met it was a pulsating match with a late Tameka Butt goal separating the two sides as Brisbane Roar claimed victory 3-2.

Brisbane Roar v Western Sydney Wanderers

(Hyundai A-League double-header)

Sunday 12 October 2014

Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

Local kick-off: 1pm (2pm AEDT)

Brisbane Roar squad: 1. Nadine ANGERER, 2. Laura ALLEWAY, 3. Amy CHAPMAN, 4. Clare POLKINGHORNE (c), 5. Brooke SPENCE, 6. Hayley RASO, 7. Kim CARROLL, 8. Elise KELLOND-KNIGHT, 9. Larissa CRUMMER, 10. Katrina GORRY, 13. Tameka BUTT, 14. Natasha WHEELER, 15. Brooke GOODRICH, 17. Emily GIELNIK, 18. Sunny FRANCO, 20. Kate STEWART (gk)

Ins: Amy Chapman (returns from injury), Natasha Wheeler, Brooke Goodrich (both promoted)

Outs: Ayesha Norrie (omitted), Vedrana Popovic (ankle – 1 week)

Western Sydney Wanderers squad: 1. Trudy Burke (gk), 2. Caitlin Cooper, 3. Jessica Seaman, 5. Helen Petinos, 6. Rachael Soutar, 7. Kendall Johnson. 8. Grace Henry, 9. Keelin Winters, 10. Michelle Carney, 11. Lorena Bugden, 12. Hannah Beard, 14. Demi Koulizakis, 16. Linda O’Neill, 18. Tia Gavin, 20. Sham Khamis (gk)

Ins: Keelin Winters (returns from abroad), Linda O’Neill (returns from suspension)

Outs: Rhianna Pollicina, Victoria Guzman (both omitted)

Unavailable: Caitlin Jarvie (injury – 1 week)