Visualisation key in Nick Flannery's Canberra United return

Her Canberra United teammates are warming up on the field as the crowd trickles into the Wanniassa venue with excitement, but Flannery cannot hear them. Her mind is elsewhere.

Before each match, the 22-year-old striker does a visualisation tape - a six minute exercise to help calm her nerves and simply her thoughts.

She started meditating in preparation for her Canberra comeback under new coach Vicki Linton, saying it's been a critical tool for her to frame her mentality for the season.

Because after a string of injuries and a stint away from home, Flannery needed a holistic change to help get her body and mind right.

"I've found it a really useful tool. I used it to build my confidence coming back from all those injuries and found the value in simplifying everything and listening to it repetitively - all of sudden it's ingrained in my brain," Flannery said.

"I actually started it before coming back. To frame my mentality for this season and I've stuck with it every game, and the days leading up to the game as well.

"It doesn't make me feel so overwhelmed or nervous going onto the field."

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Flannery is enjoying a standout season with her home club, having scored two crucial goals to decide as many match results.

The rejuvenated striker scored a winner against Melbourne City in stoppage time in round two to hand United the win, while last week her first-half equaliser held Victory to a draw.

Those key moments seem worlds away from where Flannery was three years ago, when a tackle tore the Lisfranc ligament in her foot to end her 2017-18 campaign.

She played with the Newcastle Jets last season and was drawn back home for Linton's new era, alongside the likes of Michelle Heyman, Grace Maher and Kendall Fletcher.

"It does feel like I've found my feet again in the W-League and that's a really nice feeling for me," Flannery said.

"It's the team environment, it's my teammates that have allowed that to happen. I've been doing work in the background with this imagery stuff and mentality, as well as getting my body right."

She said this season has been a standout so far in her W-League career, having started each match and being equal 10^th in the standings for shots on goal.

"It's been a huge highlight for me, from the previous few years where I've battled injuries," she said.

"I've learned how to manage my body which has been a huge learning outcome that's come out of those injuries.

"One of my biggest goals was to make sure I've prepared my body for every game, whether selected or not. I've honestly shown I've done that. On that front, it's been a standout season for me. It's not over, there's still four games to go so fingers crossed."

The first of those matches will come against the unbeaten Brisbane Roar at Viking Park on Sunday, in what looms as a crucial result to their finals charge.

Going into round 11, Canberra sat four points behind Adelaide United at fifth on the W-League ladder - although with a game in hand.

"We're all aware of the pressure that's on us this weekend," Flannery said.

"Everyone has really honed in on what they can do to get the best of each other this weekend, I think that's really starting to show on the field.

"We'll look to put them under as much pressure as possible from the get go and stick to our own game really."

W-LEAGUE ROUND 11

Sunday: Canberra United v Brisbane Roar at Viking Park, 4.05pm.

Canberra United team list: 1. Keeley Richards (GK), 2. Emma Ilijoski, 4. Kendall Fletcher (C), 5. Lauren Keir, 6. Bianca Galic, 7. Rachael Goldstein, 8. Laura Hughes, 9. Demi Koulizakis, 10. Grace Maher, 12. Hayley Taylor-Young, 13. Paige Satchell, 14. Jessie Rasschaert, 15. Jessika Nash, 18. Isabella Foletta, 19. Nicki Flannery, 20. Sasha Grove, 22. Sally James (GK), 23. Michelle Heyman. *two to be omitted.

Brisbane Roar team list: 1. Georgina Worth (GK), 2. Kaitlyn Torpey, 4. Clare Polkinghorne (C), 6. Winonah Heatley, 7. Kim Carroll, 8. Mariel Hecher, 11. Sharn Freier 12. Larissa Crummer, 13. Tameka Yallop, 14. Leticia McKenna, 15. Emily Gielnik, 16. Jamilla Rankin, 19. Rebekah Horsey, 21. Morgan Aquino (GK), 22. Anna Margraf, 23. Isobel Dalton, 25. Olivia Chance, 28. Cassandra Zaffina (GK) *two to be omitted.