Standing in the middle of the pitch and looking up, Amy Harrison can pick out just about every seat she's sat in at ANZ Stadium. The 21-year-old points to where she was as a spectator for some of Australian football's biggest moments, whether it be World Cup qualifiers, major club games or international tours.
But on Saturday night, the Sydney FC defender will swap the stands for centre stage on another landmark night at the Olympic Stadium when the W-League shares the Sydney derby spotlight for the first time.
The women's clash has been scheduled as the curtain raiser for the biggest match in Australian domestic football and one of the big nights in Sydney sport.
The rapid rise of female sport in Australia continues with the prospect of a record crowd for a women's football match and the occasion is certainly not lost on the players.
"That gives me goose bumps just thinking about it," Harrison said.
W-League players have thus far been restricted to spectator status at a venue where Cathy Freeman won her gold medal and the Socceroos sealed three World Cup qualifications.
"I've only been a spectator here so it will be nice to actually be on the field and get amongst it," Harrison said. "It's crazy. Looking around I can pick out the seats I've sat it and it's a very different perspective looking up from the ground."
A week after 1800 fans braved torrential rain to watch Sydney FC's women's team play at Cromer Park on the Northern Beaches, a crowd of nearly 40,000 will see the finale of the W-League derby.
Western Sydney Wanderers striker Brendon Santalab praised the scheduling of the W-League game alongside the A-League derby, claiming the men want to share the evening with the female players. The inclusion of two derbies back-to-back is expected to heighten the rivalry, adding to the tension, drama and spectacle of the event.
"It's a great moment for both clubs and women's football to have a derby before our game because women's football is really taking off," Santalab said. "It is now where it should have been a long time ago.
"For women in football, this is a big moment and a big moment for both clubs as well. We respect them a lot and I'm sure they've looked up to us for a long time and for us to give that support back means a lot.
"The Matildas have been incredible on their road recently and I think having the women play before us makes our club stronger. It's just a fantastic moment."
Active supporter groups of both clubs have attended W-League games in the past, notably the Wanderers. It's the opportunity to play in front of both clubs' groups the female players are relishing the most, says Western Sydney goalkeeper Jada Whyman.
"We've had great crowds with the RBB [Red and Black Bloc] coming out to some of our games at Marconi and to have it in a huge stadium like this before the men's hopefully it'll be even bigger," Whyman said.
With Matthew Sullivan.
