Perth will be looking to break out of their mid-season malaise when they host Brisbane in Saturday’s A-League Women action.
The Glory are still second on the table but have only won once in their past five outings, although their trademark defensive grit looked to have returned as they held Melbourne Victory to a 1-1 draw last time out.
They’re favourites to take care of a visiting Brisbane side who have had their own recent struggles, having won just once in 10 games after winning their first two matches of the season.
Perth defender Jessika Cowart said the point against Victory was a big step forward after being brushed aside by Western Sydney a week earlier.
“After that game we were feeling a little bit less confident than we have been in the past, but it was nice we had a quick turnaround and all week practices were intense,” she said.
“Really pleased with our response ... that's one of the things we talked about during the week, our defensive unit is incredibly strong, very consistent game in and game out.
“All season our target has been to be the top team, and we've been making really great strides towards that.”
Elsewhere, 11th-ranked Canberra want to consign Victory to a fifth straight game without a win when they host them at McKellar Park.
The team from the capital are pointing to their undefeated status since the new year, although two of those three results have been draws.
“We'll be looking to play our attacking style of play and hopefully get the result,” coach Njegosh Popovich said.
“We're growing as a side ... we're a young team and getting better each week, so hopefully we'll continue on with the form that we have at the moment.”
Table-topping Melbourne City host Wellington on Saturday, the Phoenix having lost their past four games in Australia by a solitary goal to slide down to eighth on the table.
City were stunned in a 1-0 loss to Western Sydney in Unite Round, the first match this season in which they’ve failed to score.
Sunday’s games will see the Wanderers travel to take on in-form Central Coast, the Mariners having knocked off Sydney 2-1 in a mid-week fixture.
Sydney will host the Newcastle Jets, while Western United take on Adelaide United.