Co-captains Michelle Heyman and Kendall Fletcher have huge roles to play against Sydney FC in their W-League semi-final at Kogarah Park on Easter Monday.

Linton's also relying on youthful exuberance and confidence taken from a dominant performance in a nil-all draw against Sydney last Friday.

The United coach knows it's going to be tough - traveling up the Hume Highway to take on the premiers.

She has just a handful of players with W-League finals experience in her squad, with Heyman and Fletcher easily the most experienced - although Grace Maher and reserve goalkeeper Chantel Jones both played in Canberra's last championship.

"[We have] nothing to lose, [we're] the underdog, Aussies are good at that," Linton said.

"[Heyman and Fletcher are] huge. They've been huge all season for us, let's be fair.

"That experience, the leadership, the composure, the assurance they give it's huge.

"It's that leadership and then just supporting the rest of the group to go, 'Here we go'."

United finished the season strongly, winning three of their last four games.

The one they missed out on was that draw against Sydney, where they had twice as many shots (14-7) and had seven shots on target to the visitor's one.

It was a performance that has the entire Canberra team buoyant going into the semi. having turned it around from their 4-0 loss to Sydney earlier in the season.

"We definitely take confidence [from the draw]. Obviously it was a good turnaround from the previous game earlier in the season," Linton said.

"I think we're in a really good place to play them again. It's finals football.

"We've probably had the easiest schedule coming in with the extra game they had [on Wednesday night] on synthetic, but they're a quality team.

"They'll have a bit more experience than us, even though they've got a lot of young players as well, but they're a very good team.

"They're full of confidence, they won the premiership, they're the most consistent team through the season so it certainly is a challenge, but we're going to be up for the challenge."

Linton said Sydney's front three were especially dangerous, even without Cortnee Vine (knee).

They still have Princess Ibini and Remy Siemsen, with Rachel Lowe coming in for Vine.

"The front three's been dangerous all season, but their midfield's really good as well," Linton said.

"They can control the game and they make good forward runs."

W-LEAGUE SEMI-FINAL

Monday: Canberra United v Sydney FC at Kogarah Park, 3pm.