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An understrength Perth Glory take on Canberra United at Percy Doyle Reserve in Round 6 of the W-League.

The Glory were unable to claim much needed back-to-back wins as they went down to the Western Sydney Wanderers 3-0 at Marconi Stadium.

Despite a strong start, the Wanderers eventually overran Perth with an ankle injury just before half time and Brownyn Studman’s sending off not helping matters.

Meanwhile Canberra United bounced back from their first loss of the season against Brisbane Roar to comfortably defeat the Newcastle Jets 3-0.

Canberra returned to form with their star strikers Stephanie Ochs and Michelle Heyman doing the damage while Lori Lindsey, Grace Gill and Kendall Fletcher had little trouble controlling the tempo of the match.

With Canberra high on confidence thanks to an excellent start to the season, this match will pose all kinds of problems for the Glory to solve.

Captain Collette McCallum has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a knee injury while the central defensive partnership of Andrews and Studman are unavailable as is Kate Gill (who is anticipated to be back in the new year).

Jamie Harnwell will be looking to the youth on his bench to step into the void with the likes Thia Eastman and U17s Matilda Emily Henderson promoted.

Last week the Glory were slowly suffocated in the midfield and that part of the park may be the issue again with the dominance displayed by Lindsey, Gill and Fletcher this season.

Perth’s makeshift defence will have their hand’s full trying to control arguably the quickest attack in the league and Christina Julien, Elisa D’Vidio and Rosie Sutton will do well to breach the tightest defence in the competition led by Lydia Williams and Ellie Brush.

Perth Glory will also have to buck history as they are still looking for their first ever win over Canberra United.  Last time they met United maintained their unbeaten streak against Perth with an entertaining 3-3 draw in the west.

Head to Head: Played 8, Perth 0, Canberra 5, Draw 3

Perth Glory v Canberra United

Saturday 21 December 2013

Percy Doyle Reserve, Perth

Local kick-off: 5pm (8pm AEDT)

Perth Glory squad: 1. Chantel JONES (gk), 2. Sarah CARROLL, 3. Cecilie SANDVEJ, 5. Shannon MAY, 6. Sasha ANDREWS, 8. Ella MASTRANTONIO, 9. Rosie SUTTON, 13. Elisa D’OVIDIO, 15. Jess DILLON, 16. Thia EASTMAN, 17. Marianna TABAIN, 18. Amy KNIGHTS, 19. Shawn BILLAM, 20. Kathleen WAYCOTT (gk), 21. Christina JULIEN, 22. Emily HENDERSON

Ins: Jess Dillon, Amy Knights (both promoted), Emily Henderson (new signing – Football West NTC)

Outs: Bronwyn Studman (suspended), Sasha Andrews (ankle – 4 weeks), Collette McCallum (knee – season)

Unavailable: Aivi Luik (hamstring – indefinite), Kat Jukic (hip – season), Kate Gill (illness – 1 week)

Canberra United squad: Lydia WILLIAMS, Catherine BROWN, Kendall FLETCHER, Ellie BRUSH, Meg McLAUGHLIN, Grace GILL, Michelle HEYMAN, Sally ROJAHN, Nicole SYKES, Ashleigh SYKES, Lori LINDSEY, Holly HOUSTON, Jennifer BISSET, Trudy BURKE (gk), Stephanie OCHS

Ins: Holly Houston (promoted)

Outs: Georgia Yeoman-Dale (hip)

Unavailable: Sally Shipard (knee – indefinite), Caitlin Munoz (injured)