FV Emerging v Calder United
8:30 pm, Friday 5 May, Knox Regional Football Centre
Calder United defeated the Bergers 4-2 last week, while FV Emerging drew 1-1 with Preston to set up a crucial 8 v 9 on the table clash.
This will be a contest showcasing the youth of Victorian football with both sides fielding relatively inexperienced sides in the early parts of the season.
Midfielders Ehva Gutszmit, Clancy Westaway and Anika Dovaston have shown their potential in the early rounds, helping Emerging secure points in four matches this season.
The defending Champions have won two out of its last three matches, with the only blemish coming against the ladder-leading Boroondara. During that time American import Alexis Mitchell has really come into her own in the midfield alongside the likes of Montanna Mathews, Sienna Cappola, and Elle Talevski - creating an interesting match-up against the young guns at Emerging.
Fiorina Iaria has led the way for Calder this season up front with three goals, while Montanna Mathews and Larissa Walsh have scored twice. Emilie Keppens has found the back of the net four times for Emerging so far, with Alana Cortellino also scoring twice.
Calder's Lucy Richards and Isabella Sewards come up against their former side for the first time this week after making the switch in the off-season and will be keen to make their presence known in the match.
The last time these sides met was in the 2022 Semi-Final with Calder defeating Emerging 1-0 on their way to claiming the biggest prize in Victorian women's football.
Can the seasoned players remaining on the Calder list such as Ellie Talevski and Ava Groba help their team get over the line or will the talent of FV Emerging overcome the 2022 Champions?
Heidelberg United v Southern United
3:30 pm, Saturday 28 April, B.T. Connor Reserve
The Bergers lost its first game for the season last week against Calder, while Southern also gave up three points against Boroondara.
Yuka Sato made last week's Team of the Week (TOTW) following a great game, while youngster Kiera Meyers has shown plenty of promising signs, but this week they will face a tough task as they come up against Heidelberg's Nicole Blackett - one of the most in-form players in the league and Reona Omiya.
Steph Galea went scoreless last week but has scored five goals so far this season with
The Southern defenders will have a tough time this week trying to contain the likes of Blackett and Galea, who have the ability to terrorise any NPLW defence. Izzy Coppell could line up against the Heidelberg forward, but it will be a team effort.
Southern has only scored two goals so far this season, but with improved performances each week, their first win of the season can't be too far away.
Bayside United v Box Hill United
5:00 pm, Saturday 6 May, Kingston Heath Soccer Complex
Box Hill lost its fifth game of the season last week, while Bayside had the week off after defeating Bulleen in Round 6.
Bayside's midfield of Olivia Bomford and Caitlin Storay has impressed this season, but Laura Pickett and Sienna Techera will do everything in their power to avoid a fifth loss in a row.
Asuka Doi has been a stand-out for Box Hill, scoring five goals this season, and Anais Josefski (3 goals) has also proven she is dangerous in front of goal; but Bayside goalkeeper Coco Majstorovic will be hard to get past, having made the TOTW three times this year.
Miwa Sasaki (5 goals in 2023) has been in great form for Bayside of late, while American import Kayla Deaver (2 goals) will only get better as the season goes on.
Box Hill defeated Bayside 3-0 the last time they met with Sofia Sakalis scoring a brace.
South Melbourne v Preston Lions
1:30 pm, Sunday 7 May, Lakeside Stadium
It's third verse fourth on Sunday as two of the league's most storied clubs get set to do battle over a huge three points.
The visitors head into the match off of back-to-back draws and will be looking to restore momentum at Lakeside Stadium. Still yet to taste defeat in 2023, Nishimura (3 goals and 4 assists) has been a class act in the midfield and will once again look to pull the strings against a resilient South Melbourne side.
Forwards Melanie Camilleri (3 goals) and Rachel Stirton (2 goals) have been lively in recent weeks but will need to find their scoring touches again if the Lions are to take three points away from Lakeside Stadium. The pair are goalless in the last fortnight despite putting in solid shifts.
Preston's real strength lies in its rock solid defence. The side has only conceded four goals in six matches so far, led by Christine Fonua who leads the league with a save percentage of 89%.
The impressive Preston backline will face a genuine test this weekend at the hands of South Melbourne's wildly talented forward line.
Similar to the Lions frontline, Tayla Christensen (4 goals) and Danielle Wise (2 goals) are a handful for any team but drew a blank last week as the side succumbed to a 1-0 defeat against Alamein.
In other areas of the park, Akeisha Sandhu and Dragana Kljajić have impressed so far while South Melbourne's defensive structure has been sound, as the side has conceded the least amount of shots on target in the entire competition (25).
South will head into the match knowing a win will see them leapfrog the Lions into third spot. Whatever way the match goes, expect fireworks at Lakeside Stadium.
Bulleen Lions v Alamein
8:15 pm, Monday, May 8, The Veneto Club
Led by Sidney Allen, who was named joint NPLW Player of the Month, Alamein surged into second place after a 1-0 win against South Melbourne last week.
Allen has been immense for the club, scoring four goals so far this season and showing tremendous leadership in the early stages of the season. Rebecca Saber, her chief partner in crime has also been a standout, scoring three goals and registering two assists (including one last week).
Incredibly, Saber has made nine take-ons in the opposition box in the 2023 NPL Victoria Women season, two more than any other player in the competition. In contrast no FC Bulleen Lions player has logged more than one in this category.
Although Alamein are in fine form they will have a genuine test at the hands of Bulleen on Monday.
The Lions have had the wood over Alamein in recent times and are undefeated in their last six NPL Victoria Women matches between the sides (W5, D1).
Sitting in sixth, Bulleen are just a win away from breaking into the top four and will be looking to make it back-to-back wins after downing Box Hill 1-0 last week.
The club will need to find more routes to goal though to truly test Alamein. Audrey Oastler and Rosie Rodger are the only multiple goal scorers for the Lions, with two each. With a total of only seven goals in six games the Lions will need to find more creativity to truly test Kate Bean in the Alamein goal.