STURT and South Adelaide both hold top four spots as it stands, though Central District is keeping in touch with the two sides. The Double Blues and Panthers do battle at Unley Oval early on Sunday in what should be a fantastic contest which is highlighted by South defender Jaslynne Smith becoming the first player to hit 100 SANFLW games.

FORM

Both these sides have been in great form, winning their past three games which has the Panthers sitting second with a 4-1 record, just ahead of Sturt with a 3-2 ledger. The Double Blues would need a fairly decent win against South to leapfrog their opponents, but gaining the two points would see them skip past North Adelaide into third.

TEAMS

Sturt:

B: Gypsy Schirmer – Lily Whitcombe
HB: Imogen Szegedi – Isabella Drew – Tahlia Walker
C: Summer Ross – Saskia Reynolds – Claudia Edmonds
HF: Zara Walsh – Georgia King – Molly Fletcher
F: Millie McCarthy – Ruby Cunningham
R: Jasmin Fejo – Isobel Kuiper – Sophie Thredgold
INT: Monique Bessen – Amy Brooks-Birve – Eqxelle Evans – Grace Powell – Hannah Prenzler – Lily Smart – Georgia Swan – Edwina Thornquest – Lily Whiteman – Skout Young

South Adelaide:

B: Tiffany King – Esther Schirmer
HB: Marley Tape – Jaslynne Smith – Litonya Cockatoo-Motlap
C: Lauren Clifton – Melissa Anderson – Emma Charlton
HF: Abby Woodward – Lily Baxter, Shae Archbold
F: Hope Taylor – Lucy Northcott
R: Soriah Moon – Caitlin Couch – Layla Vizgaudis
INT: Casie Coombe – Shakaila Gardiner-Dunn – Doreena Hansen – Molly Jenkins – Taya Maxwell – Tamika May – Tabitha Prosser – Caitlin Ross

CHANGES

Both sides head into the clash with extended benches, with South Adelaide having three forced changes. Emily Brockhurst and Samantha Pratt are both unavailable, while skipper Jordann Rugless is out with a leg injury. National Academy member Lily Baxter makes her return, while top-age NT prospect Shakaila Gardiner-Dunn is a potential debutant. Experienced forward Lucy Northcott and defender Cassie Coombe are among the other possible inclusions.

Sturt has not made any confirmed omissions, but a host of youngsters return including Monique Bessen, Lily Smart and potential debutant, Lily Whiteman.

AFLW DRAFT WATCH

There are a stack of State Academy players in the contest to watch out for tomorrow. Both National Academy members Baxter and Bessen will cross paths at some stage albeit up opposite ends or on the outside/inside respectively. Emma Charlton, Layla Vizgaudis and Taya Maxwell have been a formidable trio for the Panthers, while Sophie Thredgold has stepped up well for Sturt, and Summer Ross has worked hard between a wing and forward role. South’s Hope Taylor was very good on debut last week.

PREDICTION

An intriguing contest that would normally be leaning towards South though Sturt has some quality inclusions, while South lose some key players. The emotion around defender Jaslynne Smith‘s 100th game has to be factored in though, so perhaps the Panthers in a nail-biter. Could go either way.