A LOCAL striker will make soccer history this Sunday when top flight women's action is staged at The Friends Provident St Mary's Stadium for the first time.

Kate Wilding has scored two goals since breaking into the Southampton Saints first team this season and she is expected to be in the starting line-up when they take on treble winners Arsenal in the AXA Premier League at 2pm.

The big match will, however, bring a clash of loyalties for members of the 18-year-old's family.

"I come from an Arsenal-mad family," said former Cranbourne School pupil Wilding, who was born and grew up in Islington, north London. "Although they will be supporting me, they will have divided loyalties."

Wilding, a fitness instructor at the Aspects of Fitness gym in Worting, even played for Arsenal at under-10 level before moving to Basingstoke seven years ago.

Arsenal will prove a supreme test for an up-and-coming side.

"They are the best and they are in Europe this season but we always give a good account of ourselves against them," said Wilding, who has also played for Basingstoke Town Ladies. "We are getting there," she added.

Players on both sides will be eager to impress in a prestigious match played in front of England women's manager Hope Powell.

The game will also celebrate Southampton Saints' recent inclusion into the Southampton Football Club set-up.

Rupert Lowe, chairman of Southampton Football Club and Southampton Saints, said: "This is a milestone match and I hope they enjoy every minute of it. "There can be few sterner tests than Arsenal and I encourage everyone to go along and give them great support." Admission to Sunday's game is free.