Newcomers Maitland will be boosted by the starting return of leaders Sophie Stapleford and Kaitlin Radstaak when they face unbeaten Newcastle Herald Women's Premier League leaders Broadmeadow at Magic Park on Friday night.
The competition enters its second round of three this weekend and Magpies coach Keelan Hamiton said the match was a chance for his young side to show how much improvement they have made since joining the league this campaign.
Maitland sustained a 5-2 loss to Magic in their first WPL hit-out but have won three of their six encounters since to be in fourth position with nine points, two ahead of fifth-placed Adamstown.
They beat New Lambton 6-0 then Mid Coast 5-0 in the past two outings. Stapleford and Radstaak, Maitland's captain and vice-captain respectively, returned from injury with appearances from the bench against Mid Coast. Stapleford, a wide player, had been out for four matches with a quadriceps injury and centre-back Radstaak missed two games with a groin complaint.
Hamilton said both trained fully this week and the only player in doubt was midfielder Emmeline Pepper due to illness.
"Our last game was pleasing for us just to get a second good performance in a row and go into Broadmeadow with a bit of confidence," Hamilton said.
"I thought for most of the first round we performed quite well without getting the results. We had some tight losses against Charlestown and against Warners Bay, so this game is a chance to see if you've improved and also a chance to try to get a bit of a run happening too.
"We've got two wins in a row and I know it's a really tough game for us, but we're definitely trying to make it three then get on a bit of a roll."
Magic lead with 19 points, one ahead of Newcastle Olympic (18) in second. Warners Bay, who play Olympic on Sunday, are third with 13 points and there is only five points between Maitland and Mid Coast, who are seventh with four.
Adamstown (7) are favoured to take the points tomorrow when they play last-placed New Lambton, who are yet to register a point but have picked up former W-League striker Jenna Kingsley since the two sides last met.
Charlestown are sixth with six points but could improve to as high as 12 if they can take maximum points from a weekend double-header with Mid Coast, who could similarly gain ground on the top sides with success.
"For us to keep in the conversation we need to beat the teams around us and if we can take some points off the top teams as well then that will help us," Hamilton said.
Magic central midfielder Kobie Ferguson will miss the clash with an ankle injury sustained in Broadmeadow's 2-2 draw with Warners Bay last round. It was the first time this season any team had taken points off the competition pace-setters.
The match kicks off at 8pm and will be livestreamed on BarTV Sports.
