Maitland coach Keelan Hamilton believes concentration will be key to matching it on the scoreboard with big guns Broadmeadow in Newcastle Herald Women's Premier League at Cooks Square Park on Saturday.
The Magpies are tracking nicely as the league reaches round 15 of 21.
The competition newcomers held third position on 21 points heading into the weekend but have not yet beaten top-two sides Magic (34) or Newcastle Olympic (36).
Broadmeadow beat Maitland 5-2 in round one and 4-0 in round eight.
"For us to keep progressing we just want to keep challenging ourselves in these fixtures," Hamilton said.
"We'll try to play our football and try to control as much of the match as we can and nullify Broadmeadow's strengths if we can.
"If we can do that for long periods we'll give ourselves a chance, but we have to be really detailed with our concentration."
Maitland centre-back Madison Gallegos is sidelined for at least eight weeks with a hamstring tear. The Magpies had already lost versatile Airlie Gray for an extended period due to injury.
"Airlie's been out for five weeks already and Madi's injury is from the state cup," Hamilton said.
"It's a big loss. She's been excellent for us. But we've had a bit of adversity with injuries all through the season and we'll just have to turn up again and do the best we can."
Magic coach Jake Curley and centre-back Kirstyn Antoni are in coronavirus-lockdown on the Central Coast.
Charlestown (15) travel to Taree to play Mid Coast (4) on Sunday and Olympic host fourth-placed Warners Bay (19) at Darling Street Oval.
Panthers key player Tara Pender and Olympic's Jade McAtamney are also affected by lockdowns.
All games are at 3.40pm.
New Lambton play Adamstown on Friday at 6pm.
