LAKE Macquarie player-coach Kate Hensman believes complacency has been an issue for her side this season despite another undefeated run to a Herald Women's Premier League grand final.
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But, given what happened last year, Hensman is sure it won't be a problem tomorrow at Macquarie Field when they take on Adamstown Rosebud.
The Roosters dominated their first WPL campaign last year but fell spectacularly to Adamstown in the decider 6-1.
This season, the Roosters are again undefeated, but Rosebud have closed the gap in their past two encounters, playing out 1-all and 2-all draws.
Hensman said they started poorly in their last clash, a 1-all draw, but she was confident they would be on the ball from kick-off tomorrow.
"We just need to start better and play with more intensity," Hensman said. "I think we've been a bit complacent. I don't think we've played for the full 90 minutes this year against any side, but I'm pretty confident the girls can step up.
"They're pretty motivated. After last year, I don't think any player that turns up will be complacent."
Lake Macquarie will be without midfielder Kirralee Gardener, who has refereeing commitments, but W-League veteran Stacey Day and Australian schoolgirls defender Izzy Cootes return.
Both missed the 7-1 thumping of Merewether in the semi-finals due to injury.
Day sat out last week after suffering a knock. Cootes is back from a dislocated shoulder and concussion at the nationals schools titles.
Adamstown, who defeated the Emerging Jets under-18s 4-0 in the semis, will be down three players from their first-choice squad.
Aimie Neilson, the older sister of Adamstown's former Matilda Amber Neilson, is overseas for a wedding, while Louisa Murcott and Sarah Vincent are both injured.
Player-coach Ashley Wilson was confident of challenging the minor premiers but was braced for a Roosters side chasing redemption.
"The girls are definitely amped for the game and excited," Wilson said.
"The last couple of times we've played them, we've had draws, and we've been happy with how we're playing, but we feel we could have put even more chances away.
"But they are going to come out firing . . . the loss last year is going to fuel them massively."
Wilson will have a key play-making role for Adamstown, while mid-year recruit Rhali Dobson, who led the league with 30 goals, will provide the X-factor for Rosebud.
For the Roosters, Day and Hensman, who scored 23 and 25 goals respectively, will lead an attack which has produced 113 goals in 21 games.
The match starts at 3pm. The under-18s grand final between Merewether and the Jets under-15s kicks off at 1pm.
Lake Macquarie: Cassidy Davis, Connie Osborne (gk), Emma Stevenson, Gemma Pearce, Hayley Crawford, Izzy Cootes, Jasmin Courtenay, Jessica Snow (gk), Kaitlin Radstaak, Kate Hensman, Laura Byrnes, Madeline Searl, Natalie Conway, Sarah Grist, Stacey Day.
Adamstown: Amber Neilson, Ashley Wilson, Clare Cummings, Eden Macneill, Elyce Bates, Emily Frost (gk), Kim Witt, Libby Sharpe, Maddeleyne Milligan, Madeline Smith, Rebecca Miller (gk), Rhali Dobson, Serena Carter, Taylah Smith.
