Some of Australia's best women's footballers will head to Wollongong in early 2020.
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Football Federation Australia released the Westfield W-League's 2019/20 draw on Friday, which includes a match between Sydney FC and Perth Glory at WIN Stadium on February 27.
It is the second successive season that Wollongong has hosted a W-League contest. Melbourne City recorded a 2-0 win over the Sky Blues in January.
Wollongong product and Matildas star Caitlin Foord put pen to paper on a contract extension with Sydney FC last month and is likely to line up for the February clash.
Foord said football was rising in popularity in the Illawarra region, particularly with young girls.
"I know there are a lot more girls teams now and development down there than when I was younger," she said.
"I assume that there's got to be good talent coming through."
Sydney FC is the defending W-League champions and will likely be favourites heading into the 2019/20 season.
The side recorded a 4-2 grand final win over Perth at Jubilee Stadium in February.
Foord said "never really any doubt in my mind" that she wanted to remain at the club after tasting premiership success.
"I didn't really think about leaving or changing clubs. My goal is now to go back to back with the club," she said.
"We had come really close a few times, including losing the grand final the previous season. We definitely wanted to get there again and to actually win it was really cool, especially to be able to do that in front of friends and family and our home crowd.
"A lot of us girls have played together since a young age. To go through the years together and then be rewarded with winning the league makes it a little bit more special."
The 2019/20 W-League season will kick off on November 14 when Western Sydney Wanderers hosts Adelaide United at Marconi Stadium.
Foord and her Sydney FC team mates will launch their campaign against Melbourne City three days later.
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Joshua Bartlett
A sporting fanatic who is keen to promote all codes in the Illawarra and abroad. Mercury's chief football reporter.
A sporting fanatic who is keen to promote all codes in the Illawarra and abroad. Mercury's chief football reporter.
