Former W-League goalkeeper Alison Logue proved the difference when Broadmeadow and Newcastle Olympic last met.
And the Magic shot-stopper is expected to again influence the outcome when the two Newcastle Herald Women's Premier League heavyweights trade blows in a top-of-the-table clash at Darling Street Oval on Sunday.
Only one point separates both teams at the top of the standings. Magic are unbeaten with 22 points and Olympic second on 21 with the only blemish on their season coming in the form of a 2-0 loss to Broadmeadow in round two.
Logue pulled off two crucial saves to deny the defending champions at Magic Park that day and Olympic coach Harmonie Attwill said taking goalscoring opportunities when they came would be paramount against a side who have only conceded five goals this campaign. Logue has kept five clean sheets.
"Alison is a wonderful player and I have full respect for her," Attwill said.
"She's obviously added an element to their game that they were probably missing last year. She's an experienced player and she knows how to be a presence in the big games, but she's not unbeatable.
"We've scored against her when she was at Merewether and she's been scored against in this season, so we need to take that into the game as well. We need to make sure that we're willing to bring our best game and really make her work hard."
The hosts have lost captain and centre-back Sophie O'Brien to a season-ending Achilles injury. Striker Keea Parrish is sidelined for several weeks with a hamstring complaint and new recruit Elise Mamanu-Gray is serving a one-match suspension.
Strike weapon Jemma House returns after missing Olympic's last-minute 2-1 win over third-placed Warners Bay (13) last Sunday through suspension.
In a bombshell during the week, Adamstown captain Jorjia Hogg joined Olympic but will not play on Sunday as she is still waiting to be released by Rosebud.
Magic coach Jake Curley expected his side to be near full-strength. Central midfielder Kobie Ferguson returns after sitting out their 4-0 win over Maitland (9) last round with an ankle complaint.
"I think it will be competitive as always and the team who takes their chances will get the result," Curley said.
"That's generally football, but I thought in the last game Alison was the difference. She made two great saves and we scored two goals."
The match will be livestreamed on Sunday via BarTV Sports.
Fourth-placed Charlestown will be without experienced pair Tamara Nash and Ellie Withers when they travel to Cooks Square Park to play sixth-placed Maitland (9) on Saturday. Nash had wisdom teeth removed during the week and Withers has work commitments.
Azzurri took two wins from a double-header with Mid Coast last weekend while the Magpies lost 4-0 to Magic.
Maitland coach Keelan Hamilton said Ainsley Childs, Emily Wicks and Tahlia Gossner had all been fighting illness through the week while attacking player Mercedes McNabb is unavailable.
Azzurri won 3-2 when the sides met in round two.
"I expect they'll be gritty and they'll be tough to beat," Hamilton said.
"You have to beat them over the 90 minutes. You need to take your chances and you need to defend properly against them because they are a side who are gritty and will keep turning up.
"They proved that in the first round, where we were the better side but they took the three points."
New Lambton (0) play Warners Bay at Arthur Edden Oval tomorrow and Mid Coast (4) are at home to Adamstown (10) in Taree.
Tara Pender is out for the Panthers with an ankle injury. All games are at 3.40pm.
In round two, Warners Bay beat the Eagles 8-1 and Adamstown drew 3-3 with Mid Coast.
