Melbourne Victory goalkeeper Brianna Davey is set to return to the side for the blockbuster clash against Sydney FC on Saturday.
The Matildas goalkeeper was present for the 1-5 opening day defeat to defending champions Sydney, but missed the last two games after picking up a glute strain while on national duty.
While she seemed to have pulled up well last week in training, a decision was made not to risk her against bottom team Newcastle and Cassandra Dimovski once again deputised between the sticks in a thumping 6-0 win.
Davey’s return this week will be a huge boost to the club though, as the league leaders look to consolidate their position at the top of the table against an unbeaten Sydney FC.
The Sky Blues are fresh back from a third placed finish in the 2013 mobcast Cup International Women’s Club Championship and will be looking to pick up where they left off after flying the Australian flag against the likes of Chelsea and Colo Colo.
They will have to contend with a confident team featuring W-League top scorer Caitlin Friend though, as she strives to continue a purple patch that included a hattrick against Newcastle Jets last weekend.
Friend is currently also tied with Sydney FC striker Jodie Taylor as Victory’s all-time leading goalscorer, and will relish the chance of grabbing the record outright if she can notch her sixth goal of the season at the Allianz Stadium on Saturday.
Toppling a rampant Sydney will not be an easy task, but this Victory team seem determined to overturn the odds and make up for the earlier loss.
“We have worked hard in training since that first game to tighten up defensively but also to be more patient and fluid in possession,” coach David Edmondson said.
“The key will be to execute our game plan precisely and consistently throughout the entire game. We cannot switch off for a second against a team like Sydney.”
One player who will sadly be missing though is starlet Ashley Brown, who broke down on her return from an ACL injury against the Jets.
The club has announced that she will undergo a knee reconstruction on Tuesday and will be operated on by leading surgeon Julian Feller.