After a disappointing opening day defeat at the hands of Millwall last weekend, Watford Ladies will be hoping to put things right on Sunday when they take on Oxford United at Kings Langley FC.

The performance in the 3-1 loss against the Lionesses wasn’t to the standards that Keith Boanas, his staff and indeed the players themselves have come to expect and the team have been working hard this week to make sure it doesn’t happen again.

There will have to be at least one change to the starting line-up as Laura-May Walkley serves a one-match suspension following her sending off, but fellow midfielder Danielle Puddefoot returns from her own suspension and is in contention to replace her.

Helen Ward again misses out as she continues her return after giving birth; she hasn’t set a date for her return but hopes it will be within the next month to six weeks. But having watched from the bench last week, fellow mum Kylie McCarthy is in line to make her debut for the club.

Oxford come to Gaywood Park off the back of an opening day 1-0 win over Sheffield FC and, having struggled through the Spring Series, they have made several changes to personnel with the signings of experienced players such as Kayleigh Hines, Dannielle Carlton and Hannah Short as well as a host of promising youngsters including Welsh internationals Chloe Chivers and goal keeper Claire Skinner.

New manager Andy Cook has been pleased with their pre-season schedule that included a win over top-flight Yeovil Town, but will no doubt be even happier after his side continued that form into the win over Sheffield.

WSL 2 was already looking fiercely competitive, but the FA announced on Wednesday that there is to be a complete re-structure and re-branding of the women’s game.

The top-tier will become a fully professional league of 14 teams meaning the likes of Sunderland and Yeovil will either have to change their model - both are currently part-time - or suffer ‘relegation’ no matter what happens on the pitch this season.

Tier two - currently WSL 2 - will remain a part-time league but it means a cub could top the table this season but not have the reward of top-flight football should their bid, which is due to be submitted in November, be unsuccessful.