Canberra United is poised to start its W-League season with a bang, scheduled to play three clubs who finished outside of finals contention last summer in its opening three matches.
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Vicki Linton's side begins its campaign at Viking Park against Melbourne City on December 3, before fixtures against Adelaide United and Perth Glory.
A pre-Christmas blockbuster against the Brisbane Roar back at home then follows. The Roar finished second last season before losing in the semi-finals, but Canberra still managed to take four points from the Queenslanders last campaign.
COVID lockdown restrictions across the country have forced the Australian Professional Leagues (APL) to split the W-League into a conference system for the opening stages of the competition, pooling Canberra with their first four opponents plus the reigning champion Melbourne Victory.
The APL has pledged to release the rest of the fixture later this year.
"It's exciting to know that round one will be at Viking Park," United defender Lauren Keir said.
"I know the girls are going to look forward to playing in front of our fans again."
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Canberra's last match at Viking Park was a pulsating 0-0 draw with minor premiers Sydney in front of a vociferous crowd, which earned Linton's side a return to the W-League finals.
The club was eliminated the following week by the same team.
Keir was unveiled as the club's eighth signing on Thursday, as revealed in The Canberra Times.
"I'm super excited to be back with Canberra this season, it is my home town and I absolutely love it here, I love the club and I love the fans and just everything about Canberra," Keir said.
"There's a few things that Vicki and I have spoken about that I really wanted to focus on post-season last year and I've been trying to work through those things.
"This is the perfect time to work on them. I really want to focus on the season ahead and just to continue to play consistent football and develop as much as I can."
