With several Matildas teammates by her side, Brisbane winger Emily Gielnik is excited by the Roar's chances of ending a decade-long W-League championship drought in 2021.
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Gielnik has returned to the Roar after two years away, spending the 2018-19 W-League season at Melbourne Victory before an injury-hit season with German giants Bayern Munich.
The 28-year-old was at the Roar when they last won a grand final in 2011.
Defenders Clare Polkinghorne and Kim Carroll as well as midfielder Tameka Yallop (nee Butt) were all part of that success as well.
All three are back at the Roar for the 2020-21 season with Gielnik, while another experienced Matilda in Katrina Gorry is also part of Brisbane's squad.
It's a squad of experienced, familiar faces that has Gielnik buzzing ahead of Tuesday's season opener against reigning champions Melbourne City.
"Having that national team experience and obviously those older players having that experience, when finals comes, that longevity within the game always helps," Gielnik said.
"I feel great about the team atmosphere and obviously having those players that I'm familiar with, the likes of Katrina, Polks - a staple for me - Tameka, Kim Carroll. I feel confident around those types of players.
"I'm pretty excited to get going."
A revised fixture due to Sydney's COVID scare means the Roar will kick off their campaign as part of a double header with the club's A-League team at Dolphin Stadium in Redcliffe on Tuesday.
City have taken over the mantle as the competition benchmark from the Roar in recent times and were near unstoppable on their way to a fourth championship in the past five seasons in the last campaign.
"Personally it couldn't have been any better news. Number one, it's a home game and number two, you're playing the reigning champs," Gielnik said.
"Melbourne City is the name that everyone dreads playing but I couldn't be more excited.
"I'd much rather play them now, see where we're at. To be honest if I could pick any team in the league to play first, it would be them."
Australian Associated Press
