But new Canberra United coach Liesbeth Migchelsen does not want to burden her revamped squad with the pressure of contending for the W-League championship.

United begins its quest to collect the club's second national title when it opens the season against the Brisbane Roar at AJ Kelly Fields on Saturday.

The 2011-12 champion is desperate to rebound from last season's disappointment of missing the finals altogether.

Headlining a raft of changes is the return of Matildas custodian Lydia Williams, the signing of American stars Lori Lindsey, Kendall Fletcher and Stephanie Ochs and the appointment of former Dutch captain Migchelsen to replace outgoing coach Jitka Klimkova.

While making the top four is the aim, Migchelsen wants to assess how her squad performs before setting targets.

''Our aim with this squad is to reach first of all the play-offs, but of course everyone wants to play for the championship,'' Migchelsen said. ''We want to as well, but sometimes you need to be realistic.

''We will see what the league brings then we can say are we good enough to be the champion.

''In the first few weeks we'll see where we stand as a team before we can say if we can be the new champion of the W-League, but I don't want any pressure on this young team.''

United will start the season without key midfielder Sally Shipard, who is expected to return from a knee injury in December.

Young Matildas international Georgia Yeoman-Dale (illness) and Holly Houston (hamstring injury) have also missed the trip to Queensland.

Williams is one of the most important additions. The 25-year-old was the centrepiece of United's defence in the club's first four seasons before she missed the last campaign recovering from a knee reconstruction. Williams made her comeback with Swedish club Pitea IF and has also reclaimed her place in the national team.

United vice-captain Ellie Brush, who has played most of her games with Williams in the team, said her impact could not be overstated.

''Having Lydia back is huge for us and it's probably been a bit under-exaggerated how important she is for us,'' Brush said. ''She'll add a lot to our team, and the three US players we've got will be a huge coup. The people of Canberra will be very excited to see what they have to show in home games.''

It will also be the first game in charge for new captain Nicole Sykes. The 21-year-old left-back will become the second player in the club's history, behind Brush, to bring up her 50th cap after making her debut in 2008 as a 16-year-old.

Sykes believes this year's squad is close to the strongest she's been a part of in six seasons.

''With the internationals we've got [it is], but there's also a massive amount of young players coming through,'' Sykes said. ''Players like Jenny [Bissett], Ash [Sykes], Grace Gill, they've made massive leaps.''

■ SATURDAY:

W-League round one: Brisbane Roar v Canberra United at AJ Kelly Fields, Kippa-Ring, 4pm.

Squads

ROAR: 1. Nadine Angerer (Gk), 2. Laura Alleway, 3. Amy Chapman, 4. Clare Polkinghorne, 5. Brooke Spence, 6. Joanne Burgess, 7. Kim Carroll, 8. Elise Kellond-Knight, 9. Larissa Crummer, 10. Katrina Gorry, 11. Vedrana Popovic, 12. Erika Elze, 13. Tameka Butt, 14. Natasha Wheeler, 15. Brooke Goodrich, 16. Hayley Raso, 17. Emily Gielnik, 18. Sunny Franco, 19. Ayesha Norrie, 20. Kate Stewart (Gk) (five to be omitted).

UNITED: 1. Lydia Williams (Gk), 2. Catherine Brown, 4. Kendall Fletcher, 5. Grace Field, 6. Caitlin Munoz, 7. Ellie Brush, 8. Meg Mclaughlin, 9. Grace Gill, 11. Michelle Heyman, 12. Sally Rojahn, 13. Nicole Sykes, 14. Ashleigh Sykes, 16. Lori Lindsey, 19. Jennifer Bisset, 20. Trudy Burke (Gk), 22. Stephanie Ochs.