Brisbane look to take first points off Canberra | TWG Brisbane look to take first points off Canberra | TWG

The champions against the runaway leaders. The heavyweight match-ups in the Westfield W-League are coming thick and fast at the moment with this contest shaping up as one of the highlights of the season.

Defeat here for Brisbane and it’s not unrealistic to say that the premiership will be all but out of the Roar’s reach, with the margin stretching to eight points.

The Roar seem to be building momentum nicely, having won three on the trot. Not that they had it all their own way last weekend against the visiting Melbourne Victory, before running out 1-0 winners.

The recent return of experienced Matildas Kim Carroll and Aivi Luik from their club commitments in Denmark, plus the goalscoring form of Tameka Butt, has been among the highlights.

Canberra’s perfect record of five straight wins is arguably under more pressure than it has been all season. Yes, United overcame Sydney FC on the road a few weeks back, but the Sky Blues were in truth somewhat under-strength on that occasion.

Historically visits to Brisbane has produced mixed results for Canberra, with the Queensland capital being the venue for their grand final defeat in season one, but also the scene of their first ever Westfield W-League victory (and Brisbane’s first defeat), way back in round two of the opening season.

Brisbane Roar v Canberra United

Saturday 3 December 2011

Cleveland Showgrounds, Brisbane

Local kick-off: 3pm

Brisbane Roar squad: 1. Casey DUMONT (gk), 2.Laura ALLEWAY, 4.Clare POLKINGHORNE (c), 5.Brooke SPENCE, 6.Joanne BURGESS, 7. Kim CARROLL, 9.Catherine CANNULI, 10.Lana HARCH, 11. Aivi LUIK, 13.Tameka BUTT, 14. Vedrana POPOVIC, 15.Sasha MCDONNELL, 16.Michaela HATZIRODOS, 17.Emily GIELNIK, 18. Olga CEBRIAN GARCIA, 19.Ellen BEAUMONT, 20.Hoshimi KISHI (gk)

* two to be omitted

In: Olga Cebrian Garcia (new signing)

Out: Ashley Spina (knee – season)

Unavailable: Elise Kellond-Knight (knee – season), Karla Reuter (off contract)

Canberra United squad: 1. Lydia WILLIAMS (gk), 2. Caitlin COOPER, 3. Georgia YEOMAN-DALE, 4. Christine WALTERS, 5. Kahlia HOGG, 6. Caitlin MUNOZ, 7. Ellie BRUSH, 8. Hayley RASO, 9. Grace GILL, 10. Snez VELJANOVSKA, 11. Michelle HEYMAN, 12. Sally ROJAHN, 13. Nicole SYKES, 14. Ashleigh SYKES, 15. Sally SHIPARD, 16. Ellyse PERRY, 18. Taryn HEMMINGS, 19. Jennifer BISSET, 20. Aroon CLANSEY (gk)

*four to be omitted

Unavailable: Leah Blayney (injured)