It's why she's the perfect fit as Canberra United captain, in her return to the W-League club.

She'll lead United out for their tricky season opening - their game against Adelaide United at Viking Park on Wednesday is the first of three in just nine days.

The 36-year-old heads the Canberra leadership group with Michelle Heyman and Grace Maher her deputies.

Her goal was to lead the side back into the W-League finals, having missed out the past three seasons.

"That's a part of who I am as a player. I like to talk, I like to lead, I like developing players around me," Fletcher said.

"It sharpens me, it makes me a better player so I really enjoy that process. It's an honour and it's really a privilege to do that.

"As a leader you're there to serve everyone else and to bring the group together and figure out what the team and players need, and help the cohesion happen.

"I've got some experience to bring. Obviously I've played for the club before so I understand what it is being in green and being part of the Canberra family.

"I'm just looking to bring some consistency, some experience and some good play hopefully."

MORE CANBERRA SPORT

Fletcher's spent the past two years recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament injury and when she heard her former Melbourne Victory coach Vicki Linton had taken the Canberra reigns she reached out to the club where she was the players' player back in 2014.

She was excited the W-League season was getting under way - albeit with a hectic start.

Linton hoped their pre-season would stand them in good stead for those opening three games, but she might need to rely on the depth of her squad.

"We'll see how players pull up. We've done a bit of work in pre-season so I'm hoping the robustness is there, but that will be tested," she said.

"There may need to be a slight rotation, but we'll just take it as it comes."

Linton felt Adelaide were a settled line-up and would play a similar game style to last season.

While they finished second-bottom, the Canberra coach was still wary.

She wasn't giving away too much in regards to where she would play Fletcher, although Linton did reveal returning striker Heyman would start.

"[Fletcher] can play most lines of the field, but she's particularly good at the back and in that defensive midfield role," Linton said.

"From my point of view, and certainly with her leadership, it's having her in a position where she can have the most impact on the game."

W-LEAGUE ROUND ONE

Wednesday: Canberra United v Adelaide United at Viking Park, 6.35pm.

Canberra squad: 1.Keeley Richards (gk), 2.Emma Ilijoski, 4.Kendall Fletcher (c), 5.Lauren Keir, 6.Bianca Galic, 7.Rachael Goldstein, 8.Laura Hughes, 9.Demi Koulizakis, 10.Grace Maher, 12.Hayley Taylor-Young, 13.Paige Satchell, 14.Jessie Rasschaert, 15.Jessika Nash, 18.Izzy Foletta, 19.Nicki Flannery, 20.Sasha Grove, 22.Sally James (gk), 23.Michelle Heyman. Two to be omitted.

Adelaide squad: 1.Sian Fryer-McLaren (gk), 2.Emily Hodgson, 3.Matilda McNamara, 4.Mallory Weber, 5.Charlotte Grant, 6.Georgia Campagnale, 7.Mara José Rojas, 8.Emily Condon, 10.Chelsie Dawber, 11.Laura Johns, 12.Isabel Hodgson, 13.Ella Tonkin, 14.Abbey Burns, 15.Meleri Mullan, 16.Dylan Holmes (c), 18.Annalee Grove (gk), 21.Lara Kikby, 23.Fiona Worts. Two to be omitted.