So you couldn't blame Heather Garriock for trying to squeeze in one more session before a date with the side she dubs the W-League's benchmark.

But the Canberra coach will resist the temptation before they meet the Western Sydney Wanderers at McKellar Park on Boxing Day.

The clash looms as a chance for United to silence any remaining doubters as they hunt for their best start to a season in Garriock's three-year stint.

Canberra have risen to fourth on the league ladder but they will meet an outfit running hot off the back of a 5-0 thrashing over their cross-town rivals last week.

"They're the benchmark of the competition, everyone is talking about it," Garriock said.

"We're the underdog, we love to be an underdog, but we've got the players to be able to beat them, for sure.

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"It's a massive game. It's a short turnaround from Adelaide, it's good to come off the back of a win.

"Wanderers are the benchmark of the competition, and they know it, we know it. It's going to be a fantastic challenge for us.

"It's really important for us to play our own game and rise to the occasion.

"I really think in the Adelaide game we had a lot of the players really stepping up to the plate, and I think it's the same thing [this week]."

Leena Khamis found the back of the net for the first time as a Canberra player last weekend and is yearning for more of the same this week.

But first she will take the chance to get away from soccer and enjoy Christmas Day with her family.

Although a big piece of Canberra United will follow her the whole way, because she will glance up from the lunch and see her sister and goalkeeper Sham Khamis.

"We had a good session this morning and fortunately enough we've got tomorrow off with family and loved ones," Khamis said.

"I don't think any game has been easy so far, the competition is so tight, but this is a massive game.

"The Wanderers are looking sharp and are playing with a lot of confidence, they have been winning some good games.

"We know it's going to be a tough game but we're up for the battle and ready to match them.

"We know they've got a lot of strong players, a lot of strengths, especially their front-line with their internationals and Matildas there.

"We're going to stick to our game plan, hopefully it works for us, it should be a good hit out."