Massive three-pointers loom once again in the A-League Women as the teams in the bottom half of the table continue to shake up the race to the finals.
Meanwhile, Melbourne City make history this weekend as they host the first ever AFC Women’s Champions League match in Australia, taking on Chinese Taipei club Taichung Blue Whale.
Read our preview of all of the Matildas at Home action below.
Melbourne Victory v Newcastle Jets
Date: Friday, 21 March
Kickoff: 7pm AEDT
Venue: Home of the Matildas
Broadcast: 10Play and Paramount+
Tickets: Ticketek
Melbourne Victory will be hoping to go back within two points of Melbourne City as they host the Newcastle Jets on Friday night.
The Jets will be feeling primed to cause an upset after picking up three wins on the trot. However, while their cross-town rivals City have picked up the headlines for their undefeated streak, Victory have been ultra-consistent all season. It would be a major shake up to the premiership race should they drop points to the Jets here.
Alex Chidiac, Alana Murphy and Emily Gielnik will all be available for Victory. Gielnik currently sits equal top of the golden boot race, on ten goals.
Tash Prior is expected to line up at centre-back for Newcastle.
Wellington Phoenix v Central Coast Mariners
Date: Saturday, 22 March
Kickoff: 2pm AEDT
Venue: Porirua Park
Broadcast: 10Play and Paramount+
Tickets: Flicket
The Wellington Phoenix host the Central Coast Mariners in a massive game that could see the Phoenix re-enter the top six at the Mariners' expense.
The Mariners are now winless in their last five games and are treading water in sixth place on the table. It won’t be easy breaking that streak in Wellington, with the Phoenix determined to gain three points in front of their home fans and take a big step towards finishing the season in a finals place for the first time in their history.
Jessika Nash will be available for the Mariners after scoring her first A-League Women's goal last week.
Canberra United v Sydney FC
Date: Saturday, 22 March
Kickoff: 4pm AEDT
Venue: McKellar Park
Broadcast: 10Play and Paramount+
Tickets: TicketSearch
Sydney FC travels to McKellar Park looking to spoil the finals hopes of the home side, which only sits one point outside the top six.
The defending champions have won two of their last three games as they hope to finish the season strongly and avoid the 'wooden spoon'. Despite being winless in five, Canberra will still back themselves as favourites to overcome one of their traditional rivals – three points here could be massive for the team in green.
Michelle Heyman will be available for Canberra, and will be hoping to start after battling with a minor niggle in recent weeks.
Perth Glory v Western Sydney Wanderers
Date: Saturday, 22 March
Kickoff: 8pm AEDT
Venue: Sam Kerr Football Centre
Broadcast: 10Play and Paramount+
Tickets: Perth Glory
It could be last chance saloon for the finals hopes of both of these teams when Perth Glory host the Westen Sydney Wanderers on Saturday.
The Wanderers are well rested after last week’s game against Victory was postponed and will be hoping to use that to their advantage ahead of the long trip to the west. The Glory, meanwhile, will be buoyed by their last gasp equaliser against the Mariners last week and will hope to keep their recent momentum rolling on Saturday.
Adelaide United v Brisbane Roar
Date: Sunday, 23 March
Kickoff: 4.30pm AEDT
Venue: Hindmarsh Stadium
Broadcast: 10Play and Paramount+
Tickets: Ticketek
If Adelaide United achieve a result against the Brisbane Roar this week, they will secure a place in the finals for only the second time in their history.
It won’t be straightforward for the Reds. Brisbane welcome back defenders Leia Varley and Chelsea Blissett this week. They hope that will solidify their defence to give the forward line – led by Tameka Yallop and Laini Freier – more security and free rein to show the kind of form that they had at the beginning of the season.
Freier and Yallop will be available for the Roar, while Laini’s twin Sharn Freier remains unavailable with an ankle injury.
Matilda McNamara is expected to line up in defence for Adelaide.
Melbourne City v Taichung Blue Whale
Date: Sunday, 23 March
Kickoff: 3pm AEDT
Venue: AAMI Park
Broadcast: 10Play
Tickets: Ticketek
Melbourne City will take on Taichung Blue Whale in the AFC Women’s Champions League quarter-final on Sunday.
City will go into the match favourites against the team from Chinese Taipei and will hope to continue their undefeated season so far. A win will see them qualify for the semi-finals, which will be contested in a centralised format alongside the final between May 21 – 24.
Holly McNamara, Laura Hughes, Leah Davidson, Karly Roestbakken and Bryleeh Henry will all be available as City look to make history and compete for Australia’s first-ever women’s club continental trophy.
