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AAP
AAP
Anna Harrington

Western hungry to hold on in ALW premiership race

Western Utd will be out for revenge against Sydney FC with the ALW regular season nearing its end. (Bianca De Marchi/AAP PHOTOS)

Nobody needs to tell Western United how big their upcoming clash with Sydney FC is.

The bitter taste of falling short to the Sky Blues in both the A-League Women premiership and championship last season is enough of a reminder.

United sit on top of the table with four games remaining, four points clear of Melbourne City, five ahead of Sydney, who have a game in hand, and six ahead of Melbourne Victory.

Co-captain Jaclyn Sawicki is determined not to let the Sky Blues leapfrog United for a second consecutive season.

"A lot of hunger but we know with four games left anything can happen," Sawicki told AAP ahead of Saturday's clash at Leichhardt Oval.

"So every game right now feels like the biggest game of all and there's no room to drop any points.

"So you never know what's gonna happen, we're gonna take it one game at a game.

"But everyone's looking to get some hardware going."

Somewhat laughably, Western haven't played Sydney in Melbourne this campaign - after being denied a home grand final last season.

Their 'home' game was gifted to the Sky Blues as part of Unite Round, while Saturday's clash is nominally the 'away' fixture.

Cortnee Vine goal.
Cortnee Vine scores the only goal in the last ALW clash between Sydney FC and Western United. (Mark Evans/AAP PHOTOS)

It only adds to the high stakes.

"I'm not gonna lie, it does feel like a really big game," Philippines international Sawicki said.

"From their end, they've still got a game in hand so they know they want to take as many points as they can getting to the late end.

"For us, even though we've been on a streak, the more games you win, the harder it is to maintain that."

United are on a seven-game unbeaten run while they are thriving under coach Kat Smith, who took the reins six games into the campaign.

"She saw maybe an ability in all of us that is a little bit more aggressive going forward," Sawicki, who has been in excellent form after an injury-riddled first season at the club, said.

"And maybe in the past we've been a little bit more timid with that approach or a little bit more conservative.

"With that change, our mindset has changed a little bit and we've all had a little bit more confidence going forward."

Battling Perth Glory and Wellington kick off the round on Friday night.

On Saturday, Canberra United take on Western Sydney while Brisbane host Central Coast.

Adelaide United's game against in-form Victory was scheduled to be part of a Pride double-header on Saturday but due to the league's heat policy it has been moved to Sunday.

City will attempt to snap a five-game winless run when they host Newcastle on Sunday.

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