Natalia Negri is the first name on the team-sheet. (Image: Ross Halls)
Goalkeeper: NATALIA NEGRI
The Blues’ number one is in her second season with the club, having joined from Crystal Palace in the summer of 2024, and was key to Town’s success last campaign.
Negri is a England U23 international and has picked up two saves of the month awards this season, in September and last month respectively, for top stops against Nottingham Forest and Portsmouth.
Maris Boswell has been club captain since 2023. (Image: Ross Halls)
Right-back: MARIA BOSWELL
The captain was on the bench for last weekend’s 2-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest, but I can see her returning to the starting XI as she will be keen to lead the team out, having missed last season’s Portman Road fixture due to injury.
Boswell is a product of the club’s academy and was a key figure for the Blues as they won promotion to the second tier last campaign.
Paige Peake is a dead ball specialist. (Image: Ross Halls)
Right-sided centre-back: PAIGE PEAKE
The 22-year-old defender returned to Town last summer after a two year spell at Southampton, having joined the Saints from the Blues in 2022.
Peake is a product of Town’s academy and will be looking forward to playing at Portman Road for the first time. A modern day centre half, who is known for her free-kicks, she also has nerves of steel when it comes to spot kicks.
Megan Wearing has been experiencing her first season of WSL 2 football. (Image: Ross Halls)
Left-sided centre-back: MEGAN WEARING
Another academy graduate who has endured some injury set-backs along the way after being sidelined with a back problem, but has since bounced back from that.
Wearing, a Scotland U23 international, is a hard-hitting defender who doesn’t shy away from tackles and battles with her attacking foes.
Beth Roe is a consistent performer in this side. (Image: Ross Halls)
Left-back: BETH ROE
One of the signings of the season, Roe signed for Town from fellow WSL 2 side Charlton Athletic last summer.
The Norfolk-born full-back is reliable figure in the team and is now settled, playing her natural role after having to play as holding midfielder for most of the first half of the campaign.
Malaika Meena has impressed since arriving on loan. (Image: Ross Halls)
Centre midfielder: MALAIKA MEEN
The 22-year-old loanee from fellow second tier outfit Bristol City has already made her mark in the middle of the park for the Tractor Girls.
Meena, who plays for Tanzania at international level, is a dynamic midfielder who wins the ball well and looks to start attacks for the forward players.
Colette Cavanagh is one to watch. (Image: Ross Halls)
Centre midfielder: COLETTE CAVANAGH
The Scottish Pitbull (hopefully Colette doesn’t mind that nickname!) has been a revelation since joining on a permanent deal from Spanish top-flight club Deportivo de La Coruña in January.
Cavanagh is a key figure in this new look team with her quality of on and off the ball. She is a aggressive ball player and isn’t afraid to take a shot from distance.
Sophie Peskett was nominated for the WSL 2 Player of the Month award for February. (Image: Ross Halls)
Right-wing: SOPHIE PESKETT
The electric winger is a fans favourite, who creates opportunities out of nothing and is a player that will thrive on the fantastic surface at Portman Road.
Peskett is another academy product in this starting XI, and hasn’t looked back since recovering from her ACL injury in 2022. She has seven goal contributions so far this season, (3G/4A).
Kit Graham has endured two big injury set-backs during her career, suffering two ACL injuries. (Image: Ross Halls)
No.10: KIT GRAHAM
Another January recruit, Graham joined the Blues on loan from WSL side Tottenham Hotspur until the end of the season, a deal which includes an option for it to be made permanent.
Graham has already shown her quality and experience in her first few appearances for Town, and I’m expecting at least one long range effort from her in his game.
Ava Baker has been a standout since joining on loan. (Image: Ross Halls)
Left-wing: AVA BAKER
The versatile player is another January loan signing, joining on loan from fellow WSL 2 side Birmingham for the rest of 2025/26.
Baker has played both wings so far and produced both assists in Town’s 2-1 win over Durham earlier this month. She is also an England U21 international.
Princess Ademiluyi netted her first Ipswich Town goal against Durham this month. (Image: Ross Halls)
Striker: PRINCESS ADEMILUYI
A big call to be made on who will lead the line for this big occasion – and my gut feeling is that Ademiluyi will get the nod.
The 19-year-old forward has already made an impact since signing on loan from National Women’s Soccer League side Gotham FC.
Natasha Thomas is a legendary figure at Ipswich Town Women. (Image: Ross Halls)
Potential difference makers
Natasha Thomas – Town’s all-time appearance maker and record goalscorer has mainly been used off the bench in recent games. My hot take is that the legendary striker will produce another special moment on this occasion.
Lucy O’Brien – The attacking midfielder is another homegrown talent who was a star in last season’s Portman Road game against Plymouth Argyle.
Lucy Ashworth-Clifford – The pacy winger has impressed since arriving in January after spending the first half of this season with Lazio in Serie A.
Rianna Dean – The striker is another former Saints’ player in the Town squad and is the Blues’ top goalscorer with five goals.
Nelly Las – The full-back is on loan from WSL side Leicester City. She is an England U19 international and started in the 2-0 defeat at Forest last weekend. Could she start again over the captain Boswell? I can’t see it happening for this big occasion, but she’s a wildcard option.