WNPL/WSL Cup Round 2 Preview: WT Birkalla vs Adelaide City

Adelaide City take on Women’s National Premier League side West Torrens Birkalla at Jack Smith Park in the Second Round of the Apex Steel WNPL/WSL Cup on Friday night.

City will head into the contest at Jack Smith Park as underdogs given Birkalla’s top-flight status, a stark juxtaposition from their usual favourites label in 2026.

Black and Whites Head Coach Paul Morris is embracing the tag, curious to see how his team compete against a WNPL side.

“We’re going in with no pressure on us because for the first time this season, every game we play in State League, everyone marks us up to be the favourites,” Morris told Adelaide City’s official website.

“So it’s like playing a cup final every single week against these teams, because we’re Adelaide City and the expectations around us.

“So for the first time this season we’re going into the game as the underdogs with the pressure off and it’s one of those old sayings: ‘we’ve got nothing to lose and everything to win from it’.”

The gaffer admitted while on paper they might be viewed as the underdogs it will not stop the team from having a serious crack and causing an upset.

Morris revealed he has implemented some tactical adjustments in a bid to nullify Birkalla’s strengths. 

“We’re going into the game not overawed and not with expectations of just going there to make the numbers up,” he explained.

“We’ve trained really well this week and we’ve set ourselves up with a bit of a new structure and formation to play against them.

“So we’re going in with a bit of confidence, yes they’re a WNPL side and sitting second top in that league, but we’re going there with the ambition to put in the best performance we can and try and get something out of the game which for us is a win.”

The Zebras do come into the elimination knockout off the back of a six-game unbeaten run since an opening round league defeat against Sturt Lions and sit second on the table in the Apex Steel Women’s State League.

Last weekend they leapfrogged Adelaide Jaguars on the table courtesy of a 2-1 home win. Natalie Frantzis and Millie Scott were on target for the hosts.

Morris believed they can draw confidence from their league form and suggested they still have plenty of room for improvement.

“We’re six unbeaten now in the league, if you bring pre-season cup into it we’ve lost one in 11 games,” he stated.

“So we’re going into the game in form. Although we’re winning games, some of the results aren’t reflecting the performances.

“We’re dominating some of these games but we’re not turning that domination into strong looking results.

“But at the end of the day we want to continue our unbeaten run. Our league form is very good and that’s given us additional confidence going in the cup game.”

Birkalla currently lie second on the Apex Steel Women’s National Premier League table after six matches with 13 points.

Match Details

West Torrens Birkalla vs Adelaide City

Apex Steel WNPL/WSL Cup  – Round Two

Friday, 24 April 2026

7:30pm

Jack Smith Park