Following a three-month hiatus from the competition, the quarter-finals of the Women's FA Cup kicks off tomorrow morning with plenty of Aussies vying for a spot in the semi-finals.
The final stages of the 2020-21 Women's FA Cup are set to kick off in the early hours of Thursday morning, with a number of Aussies going head to head for a spot in the semi-finals.
The final stages of last season's competition were delayed as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, with Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur all kicking off their campaigns.
Manchester City vs Leicester City
City begin their journey to reclaim the trophy after defeating Everton 3-1 in extra time last season. However, they have a battle on their hands with a number of key players sidelined due to injury and ineligibility.
As a result of playing the competition across two seasons, City will be without Alanna Kennedy and Ruby Mace due to ineligibility in the competition. Clubs were permitted to register up to three new players who have played earlier in the competition, however, due to Kennedy's former team, Spurs and Mace's former team, Birmingham still being in contention for the title, they are unable to play for their new side.
With an ineligibility crisis and a growing number of City's starters out through injury, their draw against Leicester could prove difficult. Gareth Taylor is also without the defenders Steph Houghton, Lucy Bronze and Esme Morgan and goalkeepers Ellie Roebuck and Karen Bardsley.
Hayley Raso has also been sidelined recently due to a shoulder injury and joins City's growing list of injured players, and looks to be out of the cup game.
After being knocked out of the UEFA Women's Champions League earlier this month and a rather sluggish start to the FA WSL season, City could be in trouble against a side growing in confidence.
Their opposition, Leicester City, knocked out fellow Manchester team, Manchester United, earlier in the year in a 3-2 showing. The game will kick off tomorrow morning at 4:00 am (AEST).
Arsenal vs Tottenham Hotspur
A North London derby kicks off the quarter-final action for a number of Aussies, with both sides currently undefeated in the FA WSL and sitting in 1st and 2nd place respectively, this fixture will be one to keep a close eye on.
Last season's Women's FA Cup featured the same North London draw, with Arsenal coming away victorious in a 4-0 win. However, new signings to both teams will hopefully see either side through to the finals.
Caitlin Foord and Steph Catley both featured in Arsenal's 5-0 dismantling of Manchester City over the weekend, with Foord coming back from injury. While Lydia Williams is yet to feature for The Gunners in the WSL, she made her UWCL debut earlier in the month for Arsenal recording a clean sheet.
Arsenal's path to qualifying for the Women's FA Cup quarter-finals has seen them not concede a goal yet, beating Crystal Palace 9-0 and Gillingham 10-0.
Meanwhile, earlier in the year, Tottenham had a shaky start to qualifying for the quarter-finals, forced into extra time against Sheffield United.
Kyah Simon has made one appearance so far for the Spurs this season, in their second game against Manchester City. The Spurs have never lifted the Women's FA Cup trophy, while their opposition Arsenal has claimed the title a record 14 times.
The game will kick off tomorrow morning at 4:15 am (AEST).
Chelsea vs Birmingham City
Sam Kerr's Chelsea will play Birmingham City away in the quarter-finals, with Emma Hayes' side still in with a chance to win the domestic quadruple.
Although the 2020/21 campaign has ended, The Blues clinched the FA Community Shield, Continental Tyres League Cup and Barclays FA Women’s Super League last season, with the Women's FA Cup last on the agenda to complete the domestic quadruple.
The Blues defeated Everton 3-0 earlier in the year to progress to the quarter-finals, with Kerr on the scoresheet in the game.
Chelsea got knocked out in the quarter-finals of the 2019-20 Women's FA Cup by eventual runners-up, Everton, so will be looking to go one better against Birmingham.
After a dominant 6-1 win over Manchester United over the weekend in the WSL, Chelsea will be looking to take this momentum into their match against Birmingham.
Chelsea's opposition Birmingham have had a rather slow start to the WSL season, sitting in last place with no wins to their name.
The game will kick off tomorrow morning at 4:45 am (AEST).