And then there were two. This Saturday afternoon, Ballymore Stadium will be the host for the inaugural Westfield W-League Grand Final between the two in form teams of the competition, Queensland Roar FC and Canberra United FC.

Neither team has conceded defeat since Round 3. Queensland won the League while Canberra finished third, but significantly did not lose to the Roar in either of their two meetings.

The fact that Canberra has been the only team to have a victory over Queensland, in Round 2, and that the two teams drew in Round 10, gives this match-up that added spice.

When asked for the semi-final Preview about which team he preferred to play in the Grand Final, Queensland coach Jeff Hopkins voiced that he would like to meet Canberra. 'They are a side we have not beaten yet this season and a team that think they can beat us, so it would be good to meet Canberra and hopefully put a few things to rest there.'

Although Canberra appear to have the wood over the Brisbane-based side, the Roar will enter the arena as the bookies favourites. Their results, some of which have been quite comprehensive, and the fact they will be performing in front of a very partisan crowd, will give them the preferred tag.

Queensland coach Jeff Hopkins was not keen to label his team as either favourite or underdog. 'I have not really thought about this and it does not bother me as we are here to win the game.'

Yet, Hopkins does admit that the weather (29C, humid and possible showers) and home ground will place his team on a slightly higher footing. 'I think to a point the weather will be in our favour, which is the thing with the home advantage. We are used to playing and training in these conditions and I would rather that than a little cooler and a dryer heat.'

That said, Canberra will be ready. They have treated this week as with any other. "We did nothing different, but probably a lighter session as we normally do,' stated Canberra United coach Robbie Hooker. 'We will have our normal training on Thursday night and just make sure we are not doing too much, but not less than normal.'

Canberra will be lucky that Thursday evening's training could be in slightly similar conditions to the Final as the predicted weather is hot, humid and storms.

Hooker believes he will need any help he can get and does consider his team the underdogs. "They are virtually the same as the Queensland Academy squad and have been training all year, while we have struggled to get a team to training some days. Up until the middle of November we had eight players who did not even live in Canberra.'

Hooker, though, understands that football can bring up unexpected results. 'Certainly playing away from home as we did last week we are not the favourites and, despite the fact that we have had a couple of good results against them, the game can go either way.'

As was shown with the semi-final held at this same ground, previous results mean little when it comes to Finals football. Yet, the two match-ups during the regular season do tell a story.

The regular season match-ups

In Round 2 Canberra travelled north to Perry Park. Both teams were missing players due to International duty and thus it could not really be viewed as a definite guide to the main strengths of the two teams. It did, though, show that Canberra's depth was superior.

The game, played at the beginning of November, opened in a frenetic fashion with Canberra's semi-final heroine Kara Mowbray netting after a quarter of an hour.

That proved to be the only goal of the game, yet amidst the blow of losing Jenna Tristram to an injury that would see her play no further part during the season, it also provided the chance for youngster Courtney Beutel to emerge. Beutel has become one of the finds of the season, finishing a goal behind the League's Golden Boot, Leena Khamis from Sydney FC.

Canberra coach Robert Hooker was delighted with his team's performance. 'The girls did exactly what I asked of them,' Hooker asserted. 'We had practiced and discussed all week our ability to throw numbers forward and attack at the appropriate time instead of all out attack all of the time.'

When the Round 10 clash arrived just three weeks ago, Queensland were already Premiers, but seeking revenge for their only defeat of the season while Canberra were hoping to gain a home semi-final with a win.

The game ended in a draw, but not without its moments of controversy. Canberra took the lead when Caitlin Munoz and Mowbray unlocked the tight Queensland defence allowing the former to send her show past the exposed Casey Dumont.

Canberra were then awarded a penalty kick and their captain, Ellie Brush, took the spot kick, but it was well saved by Dumont. To make sure that Canberra felt even worse, substitute Vedrana Popovic came on late in the game and headed home a cross from Alicia Ferguson.

Hopkins knew he was expecting a good game. 'Going into the Finals, this was the challenge we needed.' And in response to having come from behind, 'it is a credit to the girls as they never know when they are beaten.'

Hooker, on the other hand, was lamenting the missed opportunity to bury his opponent. 'Two nil and we would probably have gone on and won that game," he stated. Hooker also felt the game was a god hit-out for his team prior to the Finals.

And both teams had more of that last weekend. Canberra, again from Mowbray, took an early lead at Energy Australia Stadium and then held on through a barrage from the Newcastle Jets to grab a one goal victory. Queensland had to use penalties to defeat Sydney FC after Tameka Butt's first half goal was cancelled out by Linda O'Neill's strike midway through the second period.

What Hopkins and Hooker have to say

Both teams have some injury worries. Unfortunately for Queensland Alicia Ferguson will not participate in the Final. 'It is a real blow to her and the side,' said Hopkins. 'She is a real quality player who will be missed this weekend.' Ferguson has a rupture of her ACL and will possibly need knee reconstruction. We all wish her the best.

Canberra are not without their concerns. Rebecca Kiting has not trained all week owing to a slight calf injury. 'Others have niggles but nothing to stop them from playing,' explained Hooker. Rhian Davies is yet to play 90 minutes, but the return of Grace Gill has been a bonus for Canberra and one would expect her to fill in if necessary.

While Canberra have been taking the week as usual, Queensland are in recovery mode from the torrid encounter on Sunday against Sydney FC. 'We have concentrated more on recovery,' stated Hopkins. 'We are trying to keep the players relaxed and to keep this week as enjoyable as possible.'

When asked about the strengths of Canberra Hopkins would not pinpoint any specific area. 'They are a well organised side and appear very together as a unit. Their success has been built on not conceding many goals and they are prepared to do the hard work. Canberra have attacking threats with the pace up front and through the midfield which is always likely to hurt you on the counter-attack.'

Asked for specifics, Hopkins did single out the pace of Ashleigh Sykes, that Caitlin Munoz has got a great strike, good touch and vision, and that Sasha McDonnell can be very dangerous.

Hooker was also concerned about the pace of his opponent's forwards. 'Courtney Beutel is lively, quick and dangerous while Lana Harch is quick and can run at people.'

The Queensland defence was another area of interest for Hooker. 'Their goalkeeper is very good as is their back four who can all play out from the back.'

The key match-ups

With the two teams only making one change each to the starting line-ups, there will be a number of match-ups that will challenge both clubs. Expected alterations are Ellen Beaumont for Alicia Ferguson and Cian Maciejewski instead of Sasha McDonnell or Hayley Crawford.

Thea Slatyer v Courtney Beutel and Ellie Brush v Lana Harch:

Both of the Queensland attackers have had a great season, Beutel stepping up when Jenna Tristram was lost to a knee injury in the Round 2 clash against Canberra. Slatyer was named player of the match against Newcastle for her work against Katie Gill, and will have her hands full looking after the youngster. Harch tends to play all around the field and that may cause some problems for Canberra's captain Brush.

Clare Polkinghorne v Sasha McDonnell and Brooke Spence v Ashleigh Sykes:

McDonnell would have been watching the way Polkinghorne was a rock in defence and will have to change her play to get around the defender. Spence, on the other hand was not at her best against Sydney, with most attacks going down her wing. Expect Sykes to be given a free run to cause Spence problems all day.

The midfield also brings about some interest with Caitlin Munoz and Amy Chapman against Collthorpe and Butt. The real problem is that they will probably be on opposite sides of the park.

Finally, we cannot leave out the two goalkeepers, both still in line for selection to the Matilda's clashes against Italy. Casey Dumont is the current Young Matilda's 'keeper while Lydia Williams is pushing to take the Matilda's job.

What the other coaches think

When asking all of the coaches as to their picks and why, the choices were in favour of Queensland four to two.

Alen Stajcic (Sydney FC):
Canberra - If Ferguson was playing I would give my vote to Queensland, but Canberra have a number of key players who will show the way.

Matt Shepherd (Melbourne Victory):
Queensland - Canberra have done well to make it to the Grand Final. It will be close, but I think Queensland's movement on and off the ball is excellent, they play football and won't come unstuck a third time against the robust, direct Canberra style.

Nicola Williams (Perth Glory):
Queensland - They have demonstrated their class all season, and comfortably won the minor premiership. With a number of national players in the team, they will prove too good for Canberra United on the day.

Mike Barnett (Adelaide United):
Queensland - They have shown over the home and away season to be the strongest in the competition and deserve to win it for that reason.

Stephen Roche (Central Coast Mariners):
Canberra - Hooker will get his tactics right. Canberra have too much pace for the Queensland's back-line.

Gary Phillips (Newcastle Jets):
Queensland - Canberra were very tired and worked extremely hard and have suffered quite a bit of travel and thus Queensland should be better. Queensland also have many game breakers.

The final words

This will be a tough game with few goals, if any. One mistake could be the game and any slight advantage could help. The two coaches gave their overall thoughts.

'I see the game as being pretty even and in the end teams in the Final will tend to raise their game,' explains Hopkins. 'We are hoping that all our players step up to another level.'

Hooker agrees and sums the Final up as 'every game is going to be something different and you cannot rely on past history.'

Queensland Roar FC vs Canberra United FC

Saturday 17 January - Ballymore Stadium
Local kick off 3.00pm (4.00pm AEDT)

Referee: Kate Jacewicz

Live and exclusive on ABC 1 and ABC HD at 3.50pm AEDT

Queensland Roar squad: 1.Casey DUMONT (gk), 2.Kate McSHEA, 3.Karla REUTER, 4.Clare POLKINGHORNE, 5.Brooke SPENCE, 8.Elise KELLOND-KNIGHT, 10.Lana HARCH, 11.Ruth BLACKBURN, 13.Tameka BUTT, 14.Vedrana POPOVIC, 15.Stephanie LATHAM, 16.Lauren COLTHORPE, 17.Tashina ROMA, 18.Courtney BEUTEL, 19.Ellen BEAUMONT, 20.Lara BOON (gk)

Canberra United squad: 1.Lydia WILLIAMS, 2.Rhian DAVIES, 3.Amy CHAPMAN, 4.Bronwyn STUDMAN, 5.Sasha McDONNELL, 6.Caitlin MUNOZ, 7.Ellie BRUSH, 8.Rebecca KITING, 9.Grace GILL, 10.Hayley CRAWFORD, 11.Cian MACIEJEWSKI, 12.Kara MOWBRAY, 13.Thea SLATYER, 14.Ashleigh SYKES, 19.Jennifer BISSET, 20.Maja BLASCH