Riding high after dismantling competition heavyweights Melbourne City, A-League Women ladder leaders Perth Glory are eyeing their first win over Sydney FC in nearly four years.
English striker Millie Farrow scored a hat-trick in last weekend's come-from-behind 3-1 win against City, inflicting the hosts' first defeat of the season and steering her side to the top of the league into the bargain.
The former rank outsiders have a chance to underline their ambitions when they meet reigning premiers and champions Sydney FC on Sunday.
The Sky Blues have won their last four clashes with the Glory - Perth's last victory coming in February 2020 - scoring an average of almost 4.25 goals a game.
But having turned Macedonia Park into a fortress, the Glory will be looking forward to welcoming Sydney to Western Australia.
Undefeated in their last nine at home, and with five clean sheets across that stretch, coach Alex Epakis believes his side's luck against the Sky Blues is about to change.
"When you go away to Melbourne City, and you play the way that we did, that's a huge confidence boost," Epakis said on Thursday.
"We're starting to see that we're a serious outfit ourselves, and we can play with the best and beat the best now.
"(Sunday) is another opportunity for us to play against a successful team.
"They've got Matildas in that team, past Matildas, future Matildas, so we're coming up against a very good squad but ... we are in a position where we're ready to compete with anyone."
New Zealand's Grace Jale and young Matildas duo Georgia Cassidy and Grace Johnston will be vying for a spot in Epakis' starting 11 after coming off the bench last weekend.
"The squad is very aware that we have strength in depth," Epakis said.
"The players are training so hard and the internal competition is very strong, and it's healthy.
"I have to make these decisions and make these assessments and pick what I think is the squad that's going to help us win the game.
"It's not always easy, but I've got clarity around that."
Keen to bounce back after last week's defeat, City kick-off round eight with an interstate trip to take on ninth-placed Central Coast Mariners.
The Mariners (two wins, one draw, three losses) have yet to find their feet in their first year under Emily Husband and are coming off a 3-0 loss to Western Sydney Wanderers.
"We've got a fair bit to work on," Husband said of her work in progress.
"But every single game is a new game. Our ball possession (against the Wanderers) was better than it's ever been. It's then just capitalising.
"(City) is a different challenge and we're 100 per cent prepared and ready."
Melbourne Victory host Canberra United on Saturday, followed by a clash between Wellington Phoenix and bottom-of-the-table Adelaide United.
On Sunday, Newcastle Jets take on Western United, and Brisbane Roar play Western Sydney before Glory close the weekend against the Sky Blues.
