The pace and physicality of the game might be a notch below the men, but the passion and commitment is just as intense when the nation's top women take each other on. And Victory's women, as last season's champions, have plenty to prove this campaign as they seek to go back to back.

Victory is third on the table, five points behind Perth Glory, which has a 100 per cent record after six games. As American import Christine Nairn points out, the team really needs three points from this game against the fifth-placed side to ensure it doesn't lose touch behind the runaway leaders.

"The team is really excited to be the curtain-opener for the men, playing in front of a potentially sold-out crowd," Nairn said. "Our season start has been great, but we are still working on putting the full 90 minutes together. We have managed to get some results out of a tough schedule so far; we have had away games in Brisbane, Sydney and Canberra. We can build off those results. We are looking at three points out of this one, even though Canberra is a great side who have been unfortunate with a couple of results."

Nairn, a creative midfielder who won the Under-20 World Cup with her US side in 2008, has joined Victory on loan this season from Washington Spirit. The Maryland-born 24-year-old said she was impressed with what she had seen of the W-League so far.

"The quality of play and players [is good]. It is a possession-oriented style, which plays to my strengths and our strengths as a team. We are exciting to watch, we want to get the ball down and play pretty soccer. I think it's right up there with the American league. You have younger players here, but they are willing to learn and do what it takes to get better every year.

"I have heard from great players such as Jess Fishlock and [current teammate] Lisa De Vanna who just rave about this league. That's the reason I came to be part of such a prestigious league and club."