Timely break provides Newcastle Olympic refresh in 2021 Herald Women's Premier League

Olympic secured the double in their first year of WPL last season and are setting the pace as Northern NSW Football's top-flight women's competition reaches round 15 of 21 this weekend.

After 13 games, Olympic are top of the standings with 36 points, two clear of Broadmeadow Magic with 34. Maitland are the next closest side in third on 21 points.

Olympic host fourth-placed Warners Bay (19) at Darling Street Oval on Sunday and for many it will be the first game in three weeks.

The club only took a handful of first-grade players to the NNSWF Women's State Cup at Speers Point on July 2-4 and all WPL matches were washed out last weekend.

"From pre-season to now, the girls have essentially been playing and training for six months," Attwill said. "That's a long time. And, realistically we haven't really had a break within that, so I don't think it will be a bad thing, to be honest.

"It's not a break to say you sit on your backside and do nothing. You just refresh your mind, revitalise your motivation and your passion.

"The girls are all super active anyway, so if I give them a break I'm not concerned about the physical aspect of that. I think it's just a good mental break."

After the Panthers, Olympic meet Magic in a match that looks likely to determine the premiership.

They have only lost to each other this year. Broadmeadow also dropped points in a 2-2 draw with Warners Bay in round seven.

"I'm big on not looking too far ahead," Attwill said. "We just have to focus on each game and the opposition and hopefully execute what we've been practising."

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