What a cracker it promises to be when action gets under way this weekend.

There are no shortages of challengers eager to dethrone Canberra United from the top of the mountain, no more so than cashed-up newcomers Melbourne City.

Former Matildas midfielder and Fox Sports commentator Sally Shipard caught up with Fairfax Media's Lee Gaskin to preview the season ahead.

Canberra United

Last season: Third in regular season, won the grand final.

Premierships: Two (2011-12, 2013-14)

Championships: Two (2011-12, 2014)

Ins: Emma Checker (Melbourne Victory), Nickoletta Flannery (NTC United), Emma Kete (Western New York Flash/USA), Jenna McCormick (Adelaide United), Veronica Perez (Washington Spirit/USA), Jodie Taylor (Portland Thorns/USA), Rebecca Kiting (year off).

Outs: Grace Field (sabbatical), Holly Houston, Chantel Jones (Western New York Flash/USA), Lori Lindsey (retired), Stephanie Ochs (Houston Dash/USA), Sally Rojahn (sabbatical).

Shipard's summary: "I feel very confident about Canberra. The team has remained pretty steady and they have retained the bulk of the side. I'm really excited by Nickoletta Flannery and Grace Maher, especially given how well she played in the grand final. I feel that she's more than capable of living up to that expectation. With Michelle Heyman up front and Jodie Taylor as a guest player, the injection of her will bolster the squad.

Key player: Lydia Williams: "She's always going to be the key player for me in any team. She's such a wonderful shot-stopper. When I was playing for Canberra, I could be as far up the field as possible because you have that extra level of confidence when Lydia is in goals."

Melbourne Victory

Last season: Second in regular season, lost in semi-finals to Canberra United.

Premierships: Zero

Championships: One (2013-14)

Ins: Melissa Barbieri (Adelaide United), Brooke Elby (University of North Carolina, USA), Melissa Taranto (Victoria NTC), Briar Palmer (Ashburton United), Annabel Martin (Victoria NTC), Enza Barilla (Bundoora United), Jamie Pollock (South Melbourne), Laura Spiranovic (Ashburton United), Melissa Barbieri (Victoria NTC), Whitney Knight (Victoria NTC), Thea Slatyer (out of retirement), Selin Kuralay (out of retirement), Adriana Taranto (Victoria NTC), Hayley Raso (Brisbane Roar), Jess Pitts (Bundoora United).

Outs: Brianna Davey (Melbourne City), Stephanie Catley (Melbourne City), Amy Jackson (Melbourne City), Beattie Goad (Melbourne City), Lauren Barnes (Seattle Reign, USA), Elli Reed (Seattle Reign, USA), Caitlin Friend (Bulleen Lions), Tiffany Eliadis (South Melbourne), Hannah Brewer (Valentine Phoenix, NSW), Gema Simon (Newcastle Jets), Alex Gummer (Adelaide United), Jessica Au (Bundoora United), Ella Mastrantonio (Perth Glory), Racheal Quigley (Bulleen Lions), Emma Checker (Canberra United).

Shipard's summary: "I feel a little bit for Melbourne Victory in the amount of players they have lost in the off-season. What excites me most is Thea Slatyer, Selin Kuralay and Melissa Barbieri providing the experience. I feel like expectations for that team is not going to be as high as what they normally are because of the unrest."

Key player: Hayley Raso: "She's always been incredibly fast, but the last few years she's been maturing as a player and she's had the chance to play in the US with Washington Spirit. It will be interesting to see how her skill level is developing."

Perth Glory

Last season: Premiers. Lost in grand final to Canberra United.

Premierships: One (2014)

Championships: Zero

Ins: Carla Bennett (Northern Redbacks, WA), Danielle Brogan (Adelaide United), Kim Carroll (Brisbane Roar), Caitlin Doeglas, Ella Mastrantonio (Melbourne Victory), Nikky Stanton (Sky Blue FC, USA).

Outs: Carys Hawkins, Bronwyn Studman (Canberra FC, ACT), Alanna Kennedy (Sydney FC), Gabrielle Marzano (Brisbane Roar), Kate Gill, Elisa D'Ovidio (retired), Collette McCallum (retired), Shelina Zadorsky (Vittsjo, Sweden), Marianna Tabain (Melbourne City).

Shipard's summary: "They had such a great season last year. There's a different look this time, losing Collette McCallum and Katie Gill, who have so much experience, and coach Jamie Harnwell going to Adelaide. But with Sam Kerr, Caitlin Foord and MacKenzie Arnold, they still have a wonderful core of a team. They are incredibly young, but they have the players to challenge again."

Key player: Sam Kerr: "I still don't think we have seen Sam Kerr's potential in the W-League. I really want to see her step up in the way of being a leader and this is her season to do that with all the experience that has left the team."

Melbourne City

Last season: N/A

Premierships: N/A

Championships: N/A

Ins: Laura Alleway (Brisbane Roar), Trudy Burke (Western Sydney Wanderers), Steph Catley (Melbourne Victory), Alexandra Chidiac (Adelaide United), Larissa Crummer (Brisbane Roar), Brianna Davey (Melbourne Victory), Lisa De Vanna (Melbourne Victory), Jessica Fishlock (Seattle Reign, USA), Beattie Goad (Melbourne Victory), Monique Iannella (Adelaide United), Amy Jackson (Melbourne Victory), Kim Little (Seattle Reign, USA), Aivi Luik (Perth Glory), Rebekah Stott (Melbourne Victory), Marianna Tabain (Perth Glory).

Outs: N/A

Shipard's summary: "Oh my god, I'm so excited. The partnership between Kim Little and Jess Fishlock will be the best midfield you've ever seen in women's football. I am so 100 per cent convinced by that. All I know is that I would love to be Lisa De Vanna. She's going to get great service and must surely be the favourite for the Golden Boot. They've got a huge amount of pressure on them, but they are a stacked team and everyone knows it."

Key player: Kim Little: "She's the newest addition to the league and a genuine superstar. Because Kim is from Scotland we don't see much of her on the international stage, but she is outstanding with what she has done with Seattle Reign in the US. Her combination with Fishlock is going to be something special."

Newcastle Jets

Last season: Fifth

Premierships: Zero

Championships: Zero

Ins: Megan Oyster (Washington Spirit, USA), Gema Simon (Melbourne Victory), Chloe Logarzo (Sydney FC), Jenna Kingsley (Western Sydney Wanderers), Kobie Ferguson (Emerging Jets), Ashlee Brodigan (Emerging Jets), Caprice Dydasco (Washington Spirit, USA), Hannah Bromley (Northbridge FC, NSW), Adriana Jones (Central Coast Mariners, NSW).

Outs: Hayley Crawford (injured), Ashley Spina (Brisbane Roar), Katherine Reynolds (Washington Spirit, USA), Angela Salem (Washington Spirit, USA), Victoria Huster (Washington Spirit, USA), Amber Neilson (retired), Emily van Egmond (FFC Frankfurt, Germany), Grace MacIntyre (injured), Emma Stanbury (Manly United, NSW), Renee Rudder (Moreton Bay United).

Shipard's summary: "The Jets are coming off a strong season having missed the playoffs by a single point. Losing Matildas midfielder Emily van Egmond, who is now playing in Germany, is a massive blow. I'm keen to see how their American recruits fare alongside several promising youngsters.

Key player: Georgia Yeoman-Dale: "She was a standout for the Matildas in their recent camp and deserves her call-up to this month's tour of China. I played alongside Georgia in Canberra and it's great to see her game develop once she's made the move to Newcastle."

Adelaide United

Last season: Seventh

Premierships: Zero

Championships: Zero

Ins: Abby Dahlkemper (Western New York Flash, USA), Alexandra Gummer (Melbourne Victory), Allira Toby (Brisbane Olympic, Queensland), Chantelle Ryder (Eastern Suburbs, Queensland), Claudia Jenkins (SA NTC), Grace Abbey (SA NTC), Kaitlyn Savage (Glenfield Rovers, NZ), Elizabeth Milne (Glenfield Rovers), Lorena Maggio (Western Pride, Queensland), Marijana Rajcic (Metro United, South Australia), Matilda McNamara (SA NTC), Rosie Sutton (Eastern Suburbs, Queensland), Sarah Killion (Sky Blue FC, USA), Gabrielle Bentley (Sturt Lions, South Australia), Nora Peat (SA NTC).

Outs: Alexandra Chidiac (Melbourne City), Isabel Hodgson (East Tennessee State University, USA), Dylan Holmes (Colgate University, USA), Katie Holtham (UK), Monique Iannella (Melbourne City), Jenna McCormick (Canberra United), Kristy Moore (retired), Katrine Pedersen (retired), Melissa Barbieri (Melbourne City), Rachel Alonso (Bundoora United, Victoria), Daila-Tais Borg, Danielle Brogan, Jessie Wharepouri (Northern Tigers, NSW), Lisa-Marie Woods (BIIK-Kazygurt, Kazakhstan).

Shipard's summary: "There's been a huge amount of turnover at Adelaide under new coach Jamie Harnwell. He'll do a good job and will be able to get the best out of the squad. The Lady Reds will be aiming to build on last season where they won three games and avoided the wooden spoon."

Key player: Emily Condon: "The Young Matildas midfielder will play a crucial role in a revamped Adelaide spine. Has the potential to add to her three W-League goals with her skills on the ball and ability to push forward into dangerous areas."

Brisbane Roar

Last season: Sixth

Premierships: One (2012-13)

Championships: One (2010-11)

Ins: Gabe Marzano (Perth Glory), Summer O'Brien, Ruth Blackburn (both The Gap, Queensland), Carrie Simpson (Bradford City), Ashley Spina (Newcastle Jets), Sofie Persson (Sunshine Coast Fire, Queensland), Cortnee Vine (NTC Under-17 program), Alisha Foote (Redlands, Queensland), Maili Forbes (The Gap, Queensland), Haley Kopmeyer (Seattle Reign, US).

Outs: Brooke Spence (foot injury), Vedrana Popovic (Achilles injury), Nadine Angerer (Portland Thorns, USA), Elise Kellond-Knight (Turbine Potsdam, Germany), Kim Carroll (Perth Glory), Larissa Crummer (Melbourne City), Hayley Raso (Melbourne Victory).

Shipard's summary: "They have gone through a real cultural shift in trying to re-establish their winning culture. The dynamics within the team is much healthier this year. Outstanding goalkeeper Nadine Angerer is a big loss, but I'm keen to see how Haley Kopmeyer from Seattle goes between the posts. They don't have Elise Kellond-Knight and they will miss her poise and presence in the middle of the park, but I think Brisbane will always step up to the plate."

Key player: Tameka Butt: "I always enjoy watching Tameka play and I don't think she's had much of an opportunity with the national team, so she will be hungry to perform. Katrina Gorry is another who will be critical to Brisbane's chances of reaching the finals this season."

Western Sydney Wanderers

Last season: Eighth

Premierships: Zero

Championships: Zero

Ins: Teagan Micah (Brisbane Roar), Carmelina Moscato (Seattle Reign, USA), Erica Halloway (Illawarra Stingrays), Liz Grey (Sydney University), Eliza Ammendolia (Macarthur Rams, NSW), Ellie Carpenter (Football NSW Institute), Alix Roberts (Blacktown Spartans, NSW), Tara Pender (Blacktown Spartans), Jada Whyman (Macarthur Rams).

Outs: Trudy Burke (Melbourne City), Jessica Seaman (North West Sydney Koalas), Caitlin Jarvie (Marconi Stallions, NSW), Grace Henry (Sydney University), Lorena Bugden (Football NSW Institute), Rhianna Pollicina (North West Sydney Koalas), Tia Gavin (Washington State University, USA), Sham Khamis (Sydney FC), Victoria Guzman (Sydney University).

Shipard's summary: "The Wanderers might fly under the radar a bit. I've been really impressed with Caitlin Cooper, who has been rewarded with a callup to the Matildas and she will return from China with a lot of confidence. The coaching staff has assembled a quality roster and they could be one of the surprise packets of the competition."

Key player: Carmelina Moscato: "A Canadian international making her W-League debut. She is so calm on the ball, has a wonderful energy and is an experienced defender. Made her international debut at just 16 years of age and played at the 2003 and 2011 Women's World Cup along with winning a bronze medal at the 2012 London Olympics."

Sydney FC

Last season: Fourth in regular season, lost in semi-finals to Perth Glory

Premierships: Two (2009, 2010-11).

Championships: Two (2009, 2012-13).

Ins: Michelle Betos (Portland Thorns, USA), Sunny Franco (Brisbane Roar), Alanna Kennedy (Perth Glory), Sham Khamis (Western Sydney Wanderers), Leena Khamis (return from injury), Princess Ibini (FNSW Institute), Lyndsay Kohlet (Bankstown City).

Outs: Servet Uzunlar (APIA Leichhardt, NSW), Heidi Makrillos (North West Sydney Koalas), Samantha Johnson (Chicago Red Stars, USA), Casey Dumont (injured), Alyssa Harris (Manly United), Alesha Clifford (Marconi, NSW), Chloe Logarzo (Newcastle Jets).

Shipard's summary: "Everyone wants to beat Sydney FC and you can't go past someone like Kyah Simon. She's had a few injuries the last couple of years, which has impacted her ability to contribute as much as she wants to. I'm looking forward to seeing how she goes up front. They've also recruited a goalkeeper from Portland, who is quite energetic."

Key player: Amy Harrison: "An exciting prospect in the midfield, Amy is going to benefit so much from being in the Matildas set-up for the tour of China. She's learnt a lot from Matildas veteran Heather Garriock over the years and could be about to have her breakthrough season."