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W-League Preview Round 8: Double-Header To Decide Top-Four Finish

A double header is the order of the day with Sydney, Melbourne, and the Central Coast battling it out to cement a top-four finish.

Nov 19, 2009 8:28:23 AM

Melissa Barbieri, Melbourne Victory Women (Getty Images)

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Melissa Barbieri, Melbourne Victory Women (Getty Images)

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Third-placed Sydney will be aiming for a win over sixth-placed Perth when they kick off the double header at Leichhardt Oval on Saturday.

Then the second-placed Central Coast Mariners will aim to stave off an attack from fourth-placed Melbourne, who are hoping to secure themselves a top-four finish.

Melbourne will have their work cut out as the Central Coast boast the league’s current lead goalscorer Michelle Heyman, who has notched up an impressive eight goals in seven season two games and who will undoubtedly be looking to score more.

But the Victory outfit should not be underestimated, with the team holding the inaugural champions Roar to a hard-fought 1-1 draw in round seven and first-choice Matildas goalkeeper Melissa Barbieri protecting their posts.

The Newcastle Jets might not be in the running for the finals, but there will be plenty of pride on the line when they take on an improving-by-the-week Canberra side on Sunday.

Then the Roar and Adelaide will round out the weekend, with a win for the first-placed Roar over the eighth-placed Adelaide almost appearing a formality.

But the Roar have lost fullback Brooke Spence to a season-ending ankle injury and the less experienced Adelaide have showed pluck over previous rounds, so an 18th game undefeated for the Roar can’t be counted until the final whistle has blown.

Fiona Crawford, Goal.com

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