Jets need to start soaring in the A-League
There may still be half the A-League season remaining, but this week looms as vital for the Newcastle Jets and their coach Phil Stubbins.
With games against Melbourne City on Tuesday at Hunter Stadium and Sydney FC on Saturday at WIN Stadium, the competition strugglers could be tapping on the door of the top six by week's end - or grounded in the bottom two of the competition.
City are sixth on 13 points, two wins ahead of the ninth-placed Jets.
A loss for the Novocastrians would open a nine-point gap, while wins over the Victorians and then the Sky Blues could potentially propel the Jets to as high as seventh.
"It's massive for us," said Stubbins, whose own position is under the microscope after a lacklustre season start that saw them fail to win a game in the opening ten rounds.
"Tomorrow we won't focus too much on Sydney, but beating our opponent tomorrow and coming away with a win will be a fantastic tonic for our football club.
"Moving forward into the next game we'll take the confidence from the three points."
A 2-1 win at Hunter Stadium over Adelaide United then an unlucky 1-0 defeat to Melbourne Victory on Saturday night has at least seen hopes rise at the club that the season is not a complete write-off.
"I spoke to the group before and I think it's maturing," Stubbins said.
"The mentality of the group is getting better and we look forward to Melbourne City who themselves have improved over the course of the last four weeks and their results would suggest that.
"We're certainly buoyed by our efforts over the last two weeks and were looking forward to Melbourne City."
David Carney will return to the starting XI after he was given just 25 minutes against Victory to freshen his legs.
However, Stubbins has resisted ushering back in Jets captain Kew Jaliens into the starting XI in their 3-4-3 formation.
Instead Adrian Madaschi will act as sweeper, partnering stoppers Scott Neville and Allan Welsh.
Meanwhile, former English Premier League star Damien Duff is expected to return to City's starting line-up after playing 32 minutes in the 1-1 draw with Perth last Friday.
Dutchman Rob Wielaert will also retain position in the central defence, while right back Jason Hoffman remains unavailable due to a back injury sustained a training on Christmas Day.
