Canberra A-League side would strengthen region's pathway says Belconnen United's Jordan Thurtell

So says Belconnen United goalkeeper Jordan Thurtell, who spent three years in the Perth Glory system.

The Capital Region Football Collective is waiting on Football Federation Australia's response to a multi-million dollar offer to bring an A-League team to Canberra.

If the Canberra bid is successful, Thurtell believes it would provide more opportunities for the 4500-odd junior players in Capital Football's under-13 to under-18 competitions.

"It's something people in Canberra have lacked a little it. Young players come through [but] don't have that sort of direction where they have a team they can strive for," Thurtell said.

"I think that would be a great opportunity for young players and I think you would see them develop a little bit more, because there would be that light at the end of the tunnel for them that they can aim to strive to."

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Thurtell, a former Olyroo, says a relationship between Canberra's local clubs and an A-League team would strengthen the region's pathway to the elite level.

This could come in the form of a youth team like Canberra United Academy, who would play in the local Premier League competition.

"Like other states it would be like a feeder, you would look to have these young players playing in first grade very early," Thurtell said.

"They may have a youth team that will come into the NPL, that sort of seems to be the thing around Australia. So that only helps the young quality around the league, I think it would be a good thing.

"Even if these young players say don't pick up an A-League contract with Canberra United, they are definitely going to have opportunities to train. And when you're training with that high quality, it does make you step up your game and improve."

As much as the 24-year-old goalkeeper would like to focus on the next stage, his attention first lies on Belconnen's must-win NPL match on Saturday.

The Blue Devils will host Tigers FC at the AIS, with the round-seven clash to decide who'll stay in the top-four.

"Tigers are always a bit of an unpredictable team. When they're hot they're hot and when they're cold they're cold, just like last week. But they're never a team that you can take easy," Thurtell said.

The men's side aren't the only ones facing tough competition, with Belconnen to meet Canberra Croatia in an NPLW grand-final rematch at Deakin Stadium on Sunday.

Croatia midfielder Krista Hagen says she's looking forward to the top-of-the-table clash, with Nik Brozinic's side striving for their sixth successive win.

"It's sort of the highlight of every season, it's a good place to measure where you're at. So the girls are pretty pumped for it and we're pretty keen for this weekend," Hagen said.

"Confidence has been building throughout the season, we've just been getting better week on week and fixing small problems we've had, and probably the last two weeks we really hit our stride."

Belconnen defensive midfielder Michaela Thornton isn't counting out Croatia's offense and says it'll come down to which side outperforms the other.

"It's typically a mid-field battle and then of course the quality of their strikers, that's always a danger," Thornton said.

"I mean it works out well that we're good defensively and they're pretty strong offensively, so it'll be a good battle."

NPL CANBERRA ROUND SEVEN:

Men's: Saturday - Belconnen United v Tigers FC at AIS Grassfields, 3pm. Monaro Panthers v Gungahlin United at Riverside Stadium, 5.30pm. Woden-Weston v Canberra Olympic at Melrose Synthetic, 6.25pm. Sunday - Canberra Croatia v Tuggeranong United at Deakin Stadium, 4.45pm.

Women's: Saturday - Monaro Panthers v Canberra Olympic at Riverside Stadium, 1pm. Sunday - Canberra Croatia v Belconnen United at Deakin Stadium, 12.15pm. Tuggeranong United v Wagga City Wanderers at Hawker, 3.10pm. Woden-Weston v Gungahlin United at Melrose Synthetic, 3.15pm.