Canberra United young gun Nickoletta Flannery wants to tap into the brain of one of Australian soccer's greatest players as she prepares to battle Matildas captain Lisa de Vanna for W-League game time.
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De Vanna started her stint with W-League ladder leaders Canberra with a pre-Christmas beep test on Wednesday as she sacrifices a holiday at home to begin her mission in the capital.
Canberra coach Rae Dower said the international veteran must train with the team this week and return on Boxing Day if she wants to be considered for selection to play against the Melbourne Victory on December 28.
De Vanna jumped at the chance and was put through a gruelling fitness session after the 32-year-old took a two-month break from the game.
Canberra is already at the top of the ladder and has scored more goals than any team in the competition, but de Vanna's arrival gives their championship dreams a major boost.
Despite being one of the most decorated players in Matildas history, de Vanna insists she has to earn her place in the Canberra line-up. That includes battling with 17-year-old Flannery for an attacking spot.
"I think it's going to be good for the team, [de Vanna] is a world-class player and I think everyone can learn something from her," Flannery said.
"Even at training [on Wednesday] she was giving out orders which kind of lifted our training environment.
"There's a lot of learning to be had. Lisa's in my position so I can learn a lot - shooting, crossing, position. It's good to be here with her. I'll just try my hardest and see what happens."
Canberra United players will get minimal time off over the Christmas break, with the squad due to return to training on Boxing Day to prepare to play against Melbourne.
De Vanna moved to Canberra this week and will make a brief trip to Sydney before rejoining her new teammates in the hope she will earn her first cap.
The prospect of an attacking combination of de Vanna, Michelle Heyman, Ash Sykes, Stephanie Ochs and Flannery will give opposition defenders nightmares.
"We're not really thinking about [de Vanna's] first game at the moment, it's about getting some movement in her legs," Dower said.
"Lisa is under no illusions, she's not coming in to walk into a starting team. She respects what we've done to date and the players who have done the job to get us into a good position.
"From that perspective, you'll probably see Lisa coming in as an impact player for those first few games she comes back. Her coming in against a tired defence brings in a whole new element to your game."
United hope defender Ellie Brush will be fit to play against the Victory in what will be her 100th W-League game.
Brush missed Canberra's crushing 5-1 win against the Brisbane Roar last weekend with a knee injury, but is on track to make her return after Christmas.
Canberra will play the Victory and then turn their attention to a clash against Sydney FC, which has been shifted from January 2 to January 3.
Emma Checker is also nearing her comeback after rupturing her anterior cruciate ligament almost 12 months ago.
W-LEAGUE ROUND NINE AND 10
December 28: Canberra United v Melbourne Victory at AAMI Park, 5.05pm.
January 3: Canberra United v Sydney FC at Lambert Park, 5pm.
