Canberra Untied and the Western Sydney Wanderers are searching for back to back wins in their Round 8 clash.

This season has delivered mixed fortune for both combatants so it’s a rare treat to have both Canberra United and Western Sydney Wanderers entering this match on a positive note after wins last week.

Canberra made sure they are still in the running for the finals with a crucial 1-0 win over Melbourne Victory at Etihad Stadium, a gripping match which took its toll on both teams.

The Women’s Game’s Melbourne correspondent Cheryl Downes reported during the week on the TWG podcast that the stand out players for Canberra were Kendall Fletcher, Caitlin Munoz and Ash Sykes who broke her scoring drought for the season.

Downes described Ellie Brush as defensively very strong again. She captured the experience of watching Lori Lindsey playing through the midfield beautifully - “Lindsey is enjoyable to watch and she doesn’t seem rushed.” And she may have come up with the perfect tagline for Lindsey - ‘Comforting to watch.’

North of the border, Western Sydney Wanderers beat a Sydney FC team that appeared rudderless without captain Teresa Polias. They showed again, as they have in spurts this season, that they have the structure, passion and talent to trouble and beat the top sides.

The Wanderers recovered well after a trouncing from Newcastle the previous week to surprise the football community and win their first Sydney derby, a momentous occasion not many would have been brave enough to tip this season. This is a team that is learning from every loss and bouncing back to spring victories over more favoured opponents.

Odds will be on Canberra United continuing their collection of points this week. Canberra looked confident and smooth in training and while they may look to rest a few knocks this week, they have some able, sharp and quick replacements ready to burst from the wings.

We should see the creative young Grace Maher spend some more minutes on the park this week and her fearless combination with Michelle Heyman will be a handful for the WSW backline.

WSW have been hot and cold this season. Their talisman Keelin Winters is in good form, Michelle Carney troubled Canberra numerous times in the opening round, and former United keeper Trudy Burke has earned her stripes this year in the red and black.

Caitlin Jarvie was superb last week against Sydney FC which will make her one to watch, and Linda O’Neill could danger the home side if in fact she returns from a head knock in last week’s game.

With the win over Melbourne Victory last week safe in the bank and Canberra back into the top four, United have escaped the sink or swim zone, but they will want to make sure of their opportunities on goal against the visitors.

Canberra took the points comfortably in the opening round of the season with a 4-1 victory but the Wanderers have come a long way since then.

It will be a tough gig for the Wanderers, and they will need to stretch Canberra’s strategy and endurance to ensure their bus trip back up the Federal Highway is a joyous one.

Canberra United v Western Sydney Wanderers

Saturday 1 November 2014

McKellar Park, Canberra

Local kick-off: 5pm

Canberra United squad: 1. Chantel JONES, 2. Catherine BROWN, 3. Julia DE ANGELIS, 4. Kendall FLETCHER, 5. Grace FIELD, 6. Caitlin MUNOZ, 7. Ellie BRUSH, 10. Grace MAHER, 11. Michelle HEYMAN, 12. Sally ROJAHN, 13. Nicole BEGG, 14. Ashleigh SYKES, 16. Lori LINDSEY, 20. Melissa MAIZELS (gk), 22. Stephanie OCHS

Unavailable: Meg McLAUGHLIN (knee - season), Grace GILL (ankle – 1-2 weeks)

Western Sydney Wanderers squad: 1. Trudy Burke (gk), 2. Caitlin Cooper, 3. Jessica Seaman, 4. Caitlin Jarvie, 5. Helen Petinos, 6. Rachael Soutar, 7. Kendall Johnson. 8. Grace Henry, 9. Keelin Winters, 10. Michelle Carney, 12. Hannah Beard, 15. Rhianna Pollicina, 16. Linda O’Neill, 19. Tia Gavin, 20. Sham Khamis (gk)

Ins: Tia Gavin (promoted)

Outs: Jordan Baker (Westfield Young Matildas)

Unavailable: Chloe O’Brien (Westfield Young Matildas)