Canberra United skipper Rachel Corsie says her new team can flourish as W-League underdogs, confident the unknowns of a roster revamp can make them a title contender this season.
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Canberra will start its campaign with a testing clash against three-time defending grand final winners Melbourne City and it looms as a chance for the new-look United to gauge their progress.
Coach Heather Garriock has completely overhauled her squad to breathe new life into the Canberra program, adding international flavour to join a group of largely untested players.
That excites Scottish international Corsie, who has played 101 games for her country, as she prepares to make her W-League debut at McKellar Park on Sunday.
"I think it's a great opportunity to play against the champions this weekend," Corsie said.
"You want to play against the top teams and [Melbourne City] have proven they are that. But we're a side that believes in ourselves.
"I've come here and I want to be successful. I know that's what Heather has drilled into this club, that's what she wants for this club.
"We'll use every advantage we can get and if [being unknown] is something we can take, we will. It's important we stay united and have that togetherness ... there's a real excitement around everyone."
Canberra has lost some of the most experienced players in the competition's history in the past two seasons, including W-League centurions and former captains Ash Sykes and Ellie Brush.
Sykes, who scored 41 goals in her 107 games for Canberra, has joined Garriock's coaching staff to provide a link to the past.
But the rebuild has been very much about the future and giving new players a chance to show they can match it with the best in the competition.
Corsie will provide the leadership and experience, Ellie Carpenter adds the Matildas X-factor and unknown goal-scoring freaks Meaghan McElligott and Aoife Colvill get their W-League opportunities.
"I'm sure we'd be underdogs. We failed last season and didn't make the finals," Garriock said.
"But I love to be an underdog. I was an underdog when I played for the Matildas and it was a great thing because while the [external] expectation isn't high, it is high internally. We know what we can deliver and come Sunday, we will deliver that. I can assure you."
Garriock has all but settled on selections for the opening game of the season, but there are still a couple of spots up for grabs before kick-off.
Colvill and Karly Roestbakken are in Beirut with the Young Matildas and are unavailable for round one, but Carpenter has returned to Canberra to start training and is finding her feet with new teammates.
W-LEAGUE ROUND ONE
Sunday: Canberra United v Melbourne City at McKellar Park, 4pm. Tickets available at the gate.
