Dual international Ellyse Perry is the poster girl for women's sport but she looms as Canberra's tormenter in a double-header against the ACT Meteors and Canberra United this week.
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But Perry says her two-sport juggling act, and separate cricket and soccer championship bids, is ''my favourite time of the year'' as she makes her domestic competition comeback.
Perry, described as the most marketable female athlete in Australia, has spent the past month with the Australian women's cricket team in its Ashes defeat to England. The 23-year-old's packed calendar is now clear for a return to the NSW Breakers and Sydney FC line-ups this week. It's bad news for the Meteors and United as both teams prepare for a showdown with Perry.
The Meteors will play against the Breakers in the Twenty20 semi-final at Blacktown on Wednesday morning. Just a few hours later, Perry will switch sports to be at Sydney FC training on Wednesday afternoon.
Defending W-League champion Sydney has lost one match this season and will clash against United at Kogarah Oval on Sunday in a battle for the minor premiership. ''This is my favourite time of the year, even if it is busy. It's nice to have so much on and I've been well looked after,'' Perry said. ''[Tuesday] is my first day at home after a busy month, it was fantastic to be involved in the Ashes series even if it was disappointing we didn't get the win. I guess I'll find out at [Sydney FC] training if I'm rusty.''
Perry took 12 wickets and scored 286 runs in the seven women's matches against England. Despite Australia losing, Perry was named player of the series. Perry is an ex-United star and was part of the championship-winning squad in 2011-12.
However, she missed the team's grand-final win because she was playing cricket for Australia.
Playing two sports led to her Canberra departure as former United coach Jitka Klimkova wanted Perry to commit to soccer.
If the Breakers win, Perry will jam the Twenty20 grand final into her week on Friday before switching to Sydney FC on Sunday.
WEDNESDAY
Twenty20 semi-final: NSW Breakers v ACT Meteors at Blacktown International Sportspark, 10am.
SUNDAY
W-League round 12: Sunday: Sydney FC v Canberra United at Kogarah Oval, 5.15pm
