Canberra United coach Heather Garriock says the departure of the Matildas could turn the W-League into a development competition.
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Sydney FC star Chloe Logarzo became the latest Matildas player to leave the league after signing for English club Bristol City on Friday.
She could become the fourth Australian international playing in the FA Women's Super League, joining Sam Kerr, Hayley Raso and Caitlin Foord, who is expected to sign with Arsenal.
The prospect of playing regular games until mid-May in a fully professional league could see more Matildas follow suit, leaving the W-League without some of its biggest stars.
There'll be big shoes to fill but Garriock sees it as an opportunity for younger players to gain valuable experience at national level.
"It's more on the Federation to answer what they want the W-League to be," Garriock said.
"If I look at the positive side of things, yes, our Matildas are going away which will strengthen [the national team] but in saying that, I think it's going to give some really good opportunities.
"You can utilise it. Canberra United is a great example, look at someone like Karly Roestbakken.
"If she had played for Melbourne City or Sydney FC, I don't think she'd be in the national team today because she's played in the W-League for the last four years now.
"I think we need to look at the positives as well as the negatives of our top players going away, this could be a developmental league but its not my call to make."
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United will be without their only Matildas player for their crucial clash with Melbourne Victory at Lakeside Stadium on Sunday, with Roestbakken away on international duty.
The national side are training in Sydney to prepare for their upcoming Tokyo Olympic Games qualifiers, also leaving Victory without goalkeeper Teagan Micah and defender Jenna McCormick.
The Melbourne outfit have won their last three matches and chasing down Brisbane Roar for fourth position, while United are eager to revive their campaign.
United, who have conceded 12 unanswered goals in the past three games, sit in sixth place and a loss would put them out of finals contention.
Garriock says the loss of Roestbakken is disappointing for the crucial clash, but has confidence in the players who will step into her shoes.
"It's disappointing she doesn't get to play for Canberra United in such a massive game for us, but we've got other players to step in," Garriock said.
"She's a great presence, wow, how she has improved over the course of the last couple of years- her maturity and experience.
"We've tweaked things a little bit based on her absence. Everyone in training knows they've got an opportunity, that's my philosophy. It's going to be great to see some new faces this week."
W-LEAGUE Round 11
Sunday: Melbourne Victory v Canberra United at Lakeside Stadium, 4pm