Canberra United is hopeful warm weather won't derail the television broadcast of its W-League semi final against Sydney FC, with the club conceding a heat delay could result in a coverage blackout.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
United is guaranteed second spot and a home final regardless of the result of Friday's road clash in Adelaide, with the semi scheduled to kick off at 2.06pm on January 24.
The club has already been forced to delay one home match at McKellar Park this season against Melbourne Victory on December 19, which was pushed back an hour to 5pm.
A W-League game has been broadcast live by ABC and Fox Sports each Sunday this season.
However, given the latter's preference to show matches as a double header with A-League fixtures United has played a handful of home games at Central Coast Stadium to ensure TV coverage.
Their loss to top side Melbourne City on November 8 is the only Canberra United "home game" to be shown on TV this season.
The wet bulb globe temperature threshold, which measures humidity, wind and radiation, is 28 degrees, which is the maximum temperature predicted for January 24 on Canberra's long term forecast.
"The game will go ahead on the 24th, it may not be televised if we can't kick it off at 2.06pm," Capital Football boss Heather Reid said.
"There's been incidents before, for instance this season Adelaide was due to play a TV game and when it was delayed for heat, it wasn't broadcast.
"Football Federation Australia does monitor the situation in the days leading up to it."
Canberra has played just four games at McKellar Park this season, and Reid said it's imperative it gets rewarded for a strong season with a home semi in the capital.
"We're mindful we must have TV coverage for the A-League, it's absolutely critical," Reid said.
"If the broadcasters prefer to have double header with the A-League we are at an immediate disadvantage.
"But there is capacity for ABC to broadcast at McKellar, they have an outside broadcasting van here and we believe we shouldn't be discriminated against because we're not in a double header situation.
"It's very important for the integrity of the league to give Canberra United the full advantage of finishing second, which is hosting a game at our home ground at McKellar."
Reid said there are no plans for extra seating to be erected for the semi final.
