When? Sunday 15 November, 2 pm kick off

Where? Madills Farm, Auckland (please note this is different to what was previously advertised)

What happened last time the two sides met?

Auckland and Capital’s 2019 encounters were closely contested. The first ended in a 3-all draw, with  and Capital’s goals were scored by the Robertson sisters Jemma and Michaela (in the process becoming the first sisters to score in the same game in the top tier of New Zealand women’s football) and an Emma Rolston penalty in the 90th minute to secure the point. The return leg in Auckland saw the locals take out a 3-1 win courtesy of goals from skipper Steph Skilton, Maisy Dewell and Britney Cunningham-Lee, while Rolston netted again for Capital.

What they say

Stephen Hoyle, Auckland Football assistant coach:
“There's a real good energy in the camp. I think it's easier to sell a playing style to a squad at the start, but it gets a lot easier when they believe in it and can see that it's working on the weekend. We just want to keep getting better at what we're trying to achieve and what we're trying to do.

[Looking ahead to Capital] “It’s a very tough game. I've seen what they're doing, they’re a quality side: dangerous from set pieces and look good going forward after all the goals they scored last week. We’ve played a back three every game, and we're just looking forward to getting better at what we do against a back three, how we press them and then how we find their weaknesses in possession.”

Katie Barrott, Capital Football captain
“I'm really looking forward to the game against Auckland this weekend. We know that they're a quality side and one with a lot of talent, but we're really excited to get up there and continue to show this league what we're about. I think our togetherness proves to be a point of difference in matches for us, and we've continued to really drive each other at trainings.

“I've been especially impressed with our younger members of the squad and the value they continue to bring to the group. So hopefully we can continue to build on this and use it as a driving force in games like this weekend. It's the top of the table clash, and that's really exciting for us. We'll definitely need to be at our best as a group – and I'm confident we can be.”

Squads as at Friday 13 November

Auckland Football

1 Lily ALFELD (GK); 2 Jess PHILPOT; 4 Elizabeth (Lizzie) ANTON (C); 5 Emma LEAMING; 8 Tayla O'BRIEN; 10 Ava COLLINS; 17 Alosi BLOOMFIELD; 21 Emma FLETCHER; 22 Daisy CLEVERLEY; 23 Rina HIRANO; 24 Arisa TAKEDA; 3 Laney STRACHAN; 9 Britney CUNNINGHAM-LEE; 12 Sophie BRADLEY; 14 Emma PIJNENBURG; 18 Ella RUSS

Capital Football

1 Georgia CANDY (GK); 2 Hope GILCHRIST; 4 Ellen FIBBES; 6 Katie BARROTT (C); 7 Michaela ROBERTSON; 8 Charlotte WILFORD CARROLL; 9 Kaley WARD; 10 Tupelo DUGAN; 12 Olivia INGHAM; 15 Danielle OHLSSON; 16 Molly WOODHEAD; 5 Nina KONDO; 14 Sarah ALDER; 19 Pepi OLLIVER-BELL; 21; Nea BLACKHAM; 22 Helena ERRINGTON

Officials

Referee Lindsey Robinson; Assistant Referee 1 Rebecca Blakeman; Assistant Referee 2 Caley McNeely; Fourth Official Eric Yu

Article added: Sunday 15 November 2020