Southampton FC Women will host Ipswich Town Women at Silverlake Stadium this afternoon in their first home fixture of the new WSL 2 campaign.
Simon Parker’s side enter the clash following a statement opening day victory over Durham.
The squad must now adapt to their new Eastleigh base after relocating from St Mary’s Stadium for the current season.
This fixture brings a swift reunion with former Southampton pair Aimee Palmer and Tegan McGowan.
Both players joined the Suffolk outfit during the summer transfer window.
Managing Returning Squad Fitness
Parker confirmed several returning players are nearing full match fitness ahead of the contest.
Midfielder Chloe Peplow and forward Emma Harries will seek extended minutes following their managed returns last weekend.
Defender Ellie Hack could also feature following a recent back issue.
The head coach outlined his intentions for the new ground while previewing the match for southamptonfc.com.
“You want to get off to a good start, which we did last week, but the first home game is a really good chance to make an impression for the fans,” Parker said.
While Tonda Eckert prepares Saints for physical tests in the Championship, Parker’s squad face their own demanding calendar.
Southampton aim to establish dominance at their new venue and replicate last season’s double over the visitors.
