Newly-appointed Melbourne Victory W-League captain Christine Nairn says her team is gunning for a finals berth after finishing with the wooden spoon last season.
The American midfielder was announced as the Victory's leader on Thursday after joining the club for the third successive year.
Ahead of their W-League opener against Adelaide United on Sunday, Nairn says she's expecting more from the young side under new coach, former Brisbane Roar mentor Jeff Hopkins.
"Our first goal is to make finals and then take every game as we can, try to get points where we can, climb up the ladder and just get better each and every game," Nairn said.
"Our first goal is winning this weekend and then we're going to go for the finals and keep going.
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"The girls have come back hungry, they have a year under their belt and they're excited to get back together and their eyes aren't as big anymore."
Nairn won the Victory's Players' Player last season while she came achingly close to claiming the US women's league title.
Her team, Washington Spirit, led the grand final until the final seconds when a goal by Western New York Flash pushed the match into extra time before they lost on penalties.
Nairn, 26, said she was excited to again add her experience to the young talent at Victory, which included Young Matildas MelindaJ (MelindaJ) Barbieri, Annabel Martin and Ashleigh Lefevre.
The trio will miss the Adelaide clash at Coopers Stadium as they are in China at the AFC U-19 Women's Championship Qualifiers.
"Last year I think they were happy to be there and this year they are holding the standard - they are the standard," she said.
"The more they can realise they're the big guns, I think the better we'll do as a team."
Adelaide also have three Americans in their ranks, signing Chicago Red Star players in Katie Naughton, Danielle Colaprico and Sofia Huerta while defender Monica Hickmann Alves will become the first Brazilian player to play in the W-League.
AAP
