But coach Robbie Hooker has no doubt the 20-year-old was the perfect candidate.

Canberra born-and-raised Brush was announced yesterday as United's captain while Sydney-based defender Thea Slatyer will be the vice-captain with 17-year-old defender Rebecca Kiting also included in the leadership group.

Brush will be the youngest captain in the W-League and will test her leadership qualities against the likes of Matildas captain Cheryl Salisbury, who will captain Newcastle against Canberra tomorrow.

''There is a lot of other experienced and older girls in the team, but that just even more makes it the biggest honour of my career,'' Brush said yesterday.

''It's a good category to be in that's for sure, to be amongst those kind of names that I have looked up to in my career, to be going out and shaking their hands before the game ... it's a great feeling.''

Brush has captained ACT teams at under-15 and under-17 level and was a vice-captain for an Australian schoolgirls team.

She was one of the youngest players in the now-defunct WNSL when she played for Canberra Eclipse.

Brush's latest achievement comes just 18 months after she switched from being a striker to defence. Tomorrow she will line-up alongside Slatyer in Canberra's backline.

United's coach Hooker said she was the outstanding candidate for the captain.

''The improvement as a defender is like night and day and she hasn't been able to display that at any national team camps, so I think this league for players like Ellie will be a huge platform to show what they can do,'' Hooker said.

''Along with Thea she'll be the first player I pick in the team in defence and you will see that she is courageous, committed and won't back out of anything.''

Hooker said the captaincy decision would give greater freedom to Canberra's internationals.

''It will be pressure off our Matildas players so they can concentrate on performing on the field for us, rather than having that extra responsibility,'' Hooker said.