Round 16 of the NPLW is upon us and with top spot and finals positions still up in the air, it is shaping up to be a crucial weekend of action.
Preston Lions v Boroondara Eagles
6:15 pm, Friday 30 June, B.T. Connor Reserve
Preston found some much-needed form last week in a 2-0 victory over Southern United, and Boroondara claimed a point in a high-scoring clash against Alamein.
The Lions sit six points outside the top four with a victory this week against the Eagles crucial to their finals aspirations.
Preston will be determined to start well and re-create their two-goal first half last week with Boroondara looking vulnerable early in matches, giving up a three-goal headstart against Alamein.
Boroondara's forward mix will decide this match with striker Kuera Okino leading the league with 21 goals for the season. Olivia Edwards and Emma Checker were among Preston's best in the heart of defence last week and will get the match-up of the dynamic Japanese import.
Margot Robinne (4 goals) will play behind the NPLW Golden Boot leader and has proved her quality is hard to be matched with Emma Checker likely to get the matchup.
The Eagles midfield has also shown the ability to get on the scoreboard with Emily Sutcliffe (4 goals), Rebecca Lim (3 goals), and Ellen Turner (2 goals) all finding the back of the net.
Preston relies on its midfielders to get on the scoresheet, with Miri Nishimura (6 goals) and Georgia Henderson (2 goals) scoring in last week's victory. Rachel Stirton and Mel Camilleri will play up front for the Lions but have only scored a combined five goals for the season.
Preston defeated Boroondara 4-1 in Round 5 with two goals in each half.
Can Preston close the gap on the top four or will Boroondara return to the top of the table?
FV Emerging v Box Hill United
8:30 pm, Friday 30 June, Knox Regional Football Centre
FV Emerging had a huge victory over Bayside United in Round 15, while Box Hill Unite claimed all three points against Heidelberg at home.
Box Hill remains in the finals hut, however, FV Emerging will be out to cause some havoc before the season is out.
Asuka Doi is second in the NPLW Golden Boot with eight goals and will be a tough matchup for Emerging's Mila Bulic and Silverbell Morris.
A mix of Sienna Techera and Anias Josefski will cause plenty of chaos on the wing for Box Hill, while Melinda Barbieri may prove too much to handle for the young side.
Hot-off scoring in last week's victory, Sofia Sakalis will lead the midfield battle alongside Rosie Curtis and Kanna Moriya against Emerging's exciting trio of Anika Dovaston, Evha Gutszmit, and Kiera Meyers.
Emerging's Alana Cortellino was at her dangerous best last week, making the Round 15 Team of the Week, and will play on the wing opposite Candice Kilderry who also found the back of the net against Bayside.
Box Hill's Laura Pickett and Olivia Ellis will get the job against Emerging striker Emilie Keppens who sits in the top five of the NPLW Golden Boot with seven goals.
FV Emerging will be without Annie Yates this week after the youngster picked up a red card against Bayside in Round 15.
FV Emerging defeated Box Hill 5-2 in Round 5, with four goals in the first half blowing away the home side.
Can FV Emerging continue to spoil the party for finals aspirants for will Box Hill charge towards the top four?
Bayside United v South Melbourne
3:30 pm, Saturday 1 July, Kingston Heath Soccer Complex
South Melbourne split the points with Bulleen last week and Bayside United lost to FV Emerging.
This top-four clash will be the battle of the in-form strikers with Danielle Wise (South Melbourne) and Kayla Deaver (Bayside United) both locked in second position in the NPLW Golden Boot race.
Sienna Fogarty and Caitlin Storay (Bayside United) will have a tough assignment against South's attacking line with Tayla Christensen (5 goals) and Janna Lawson (3 goals) capable of getting on the scoresheet along with Danielle Wise.
South Melbourne defenders Brianne Reed and Leia Varley will also need to contend with Julia Budiongo who has scored five goals for the season, while midfielder Miwa Sasaki has found the back of the net seven times.
Midfielders Meisha Westland and Francesca Iermano have been great for South since coming into the side in the mid-season transfer period and will play a crucial role in deciding the game in the midfield battle against Bayside's Olivia Bomford, Kate Shearing, and Sarah Johnston.
New Zealand import Tayla Christensen was the hero for South Melbourne when the two sides met in Round 5, scoring a brace in the 2-1 victory.
Can Bayside leapfrog their opponents into third place or will South Melbourne make the Premiership race a three-way battle?
Southern United v Calder United
5:45 pm, Saturday 1 July, Selandra Recreation Reserve
Southern United lost on the road to Preston in Round 15, while Calder enjoyed the week off.
Calder is coming, the reigning Champions are four points outside the top four and a victory in this picture could help set them up for late-season push.
Larissa Walsh (3 goals, 2 assists) and Keiwa Hidea (4 goals, 4 assists) will head the attack for Calder, while Fiorina Iaria (3 goals) will be another goal-scoring option.
Rachel Binning will be the experienced head in defence for Southern against the potent Calder forward line along with youngster Izzy Coppel and they will be supported by multi-time Team of the Week representative Erin Hudson in goals.
Southern has only scored nine goals for the season, however, Zarli Vandenberg and Erin Keyt will play upfront and can't be underestimated.
Calder's star-studded defence of Lucy Richards, Alana Cerne, Julia Sardo, and even Nikola Dakic come up against Southern forwards Zarli Vanenverg, Erin Keyt, and Rhiannon Kelleher and with
Calder should control the battle in their defensive half with Lucy Richards, Alana Cerne, Julia Sardo, and even Nikola Dakic rolling through the back half against Southern forwards Zarli Vanenverg, Erin Keyt, and Rhiannon Kelleher, but they could be dangerous, as they have nothing to lose.
Southern has scored nine goals this season from 14 matches, with defender Rachel Binning and mid-forward Rhiannon Kelleher contributing two goals each.
Southern's Yuka Sato has been her side's most consistent contributor this season, but along with Rhiannon Kelleher and Antonia Niteros will have their work cut out for them against Calder's formidable midfield brigade of Raquel Deralas, Ava Groba, Elle Talevski, Ava Groba, Alexis Mitchell and Montanna Mathews.
Calder United defeated Southern United 2-1 in Round 5, Lucy Richards scored the winning goal in the 87th minute.
Calder has a host of players hitting form at the right time in the season, can they continue on their charge to finals or can Southern surprise the star-studded line-up and get a result?
Alamein v Heidelberg United
3:00 pm, Saturday 1 July, Dorothy Laver West Reserve
This clash has been postponed and will be completed at a later date to be confirmed.