Goalkeeper Sally James is edging closer to her return from injury as Canberra United look to bounce back from their first loss of the W-League season.
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James has missed three matches due to a sore finger, opening the door for Chantel Jones to come out of retirement and Keeley Richards to debut.
It is hoped 18-year-old James will return to the fray for Sunday's clash with Adelaide United at Marden Sports Complex, but Canberra coach Vicki Linton is tight-lipped on that prospect.
The club felt James' absence in Monday's 4-0 loss to Sydney FC, given she's equal-fifth best in the W-League for saves (16) despite her match time.
United is also sweating on the fitness of striker Hayley Taylor-Young for the round-eight match, after she came off Kogarah Oval at half-time with a rolled ankle.
"It wasn't great but she's come up okay," Linton said.
"It's an ongoing issue, people with [ankle issues] often have them and carry them from injury to injury. It's something we're monitoring but she should be okay."
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Linton said her team responded well to their first loss of the season, with United determined to implement their learnings and bounce back strongly against Adelaide.
Canberra sits third on the W-League ladder with a game-in-hand over the Brisbane Roar, who leapfrogged them into second place with a 2-1 win over the Western Sydney Wanderers on Thursday night.
Only three points separate Brisbane and fifth-placed Adelaide, while the unbeaten Sky Blues hold a five-point lead on top of the standings heading into this weekend.
"Any time we play someone within that [top five] it's going to be important. It's halfway through the season, I don't think it's going to be catastrophic should the result not go our way [this weekend]," Linton said.
"But it's important, for me it's more how we respond."
United beat the Reds 4-3 with a come-from-behind win at Viking Park in round one, and Adelaide has since won three matches, drawn one and lost one.
It'll be the first time United has met a rival team twice this season, with the fixture changing almost weekly due to COVID-19.
Linton believes United has improved since their first outing, but expects another close match on Adelaide's home turf.
"We definitely are [a better team] but so are they," Linton said.
"I'm thinking based on their squad and ours, where we were compared to them, how consistent they've been over the last few weeks, and that we were a brand new squad coming together - hopefully there's a little bit in our improvement from that time.
"They're still a very competitive and good team, Adelaide has very good combinations, understanding and technical ability. We're playing on their turf.
"It'll be a very close match, as in where we're both at and the importance of the game. I'm expecting a really tough game."
W-League round eight
Sunday: Adelaide United v Canberra United at Marden Sports Complex, 6.05pm
Lucie Bertoldo
Lucie Bertoldo is a sports reporter for the Canberra Times.
Lucie Bertoldo is a sports reporter for the Canberra Times.
