Fearing they could jinx their title ambitions, captain Nicole Sykes and vice-captain Ellie Brush kept their hands off the piece of silverware the club won at the end of the 2011-2012 season.

United is 90 minutes away from booking its spot in the grand final when it hosts familiar foe Brisbane Roar at McKellar Park on Saturday.

The premiers have every reason not to take the Roar lightly.

The fourth-placed Roar is the only team to beat United in Canberra this season, recording a 1-0 result in round four.

It also knocked United out in the semi-final stage of the 2010-11 campaign, winning a penalty shoot-out 4-2 after scores were locked at 2-2.

United gained its revenge a year later, its 3-2 victory in

the decider delivering the club its maiden championship.

Sykes and Brush are well aware of the rivalry between the teams.

''We've always had some really great games against Brisbane, and the semi-finals and finals in the past show that,'' Sykes said.

''A few people still underrate us. We haven't got the same amount of Matildas as Brisbane and Sydney have, so it's nice to finish on top of the table to show we can mix it with the best of them.''

After a strong start to the season, United slumped to fifth after back-to-back losses to Adelaide United and Melbourne Victory after the Christmas break.

But a run of five wins into the finals has given United a momentum that could carry it to its second title in three years.

Brush believes United still has a point to prove against a star-studded Roar side that has nine Matildas in its starting line-up.

''We come in as underdogs even though we've topped the ladder,'' Brush said.

''We're not going to be complacent with this really strong team. We're certainly very confident coming in and we've both got a lot of finals experience, but we're pumped to be in front of this great Canberra crowd.''

Brush and fellow defender Sally Rojahn are expected to be back in the line-up after sitting out last week's 2-1 win over Sydney FC to avoid the risk of picking up a fourth yellow card for the season and an automatic one-game ban.

Star midfielder Sally Shipard - who two weeks ago played her first game in 15 months after coming back from knee injuries - also missed that game, to avoid playing on the harder synthetic surface of the Sydney United Sports Centre.

Coach Elisabeth Migchelsen said she would decide whether the Matildas veteran will play after Friday night's training session.

''She's fit, but the full squad is available,'' she said. ''If she can manage the training sessions this week hopefully she is in the squad.''

SATURDAY

W-League semi-final: Canberra United v Brisbane Roar at McKellar Park, 3pm.