NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard foreshadowed the capacity reduction, down from 50 per cent, at the daily COVID-19 update press conference on Thursday.

The changes came after the third Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground got underway earlier in the day with a reduced crowd of only about 10,000 that were required to don face masks.

"There will be some requirements being imposed in the next day or so which will mandate the use of masks also for those spectators who attend A-League and other sporting events of a similar ilk," Mr Hazzard said.

"We obviously would like to have avoided that but the advice from public health is that that does add a further and very important layer in our current environment.

"So spectators can expect that when they attend the game this weekend in Newcastle that extra layer of protection will be there.

"You will have to take a mask with you and you will be required to wear it during the entire event; except of course when you're eating or drinking."

The Jets play Sydney FC in the W-League at 4.35pm.

In the A-League, the Jets face Western Sydney at 7.10pm in what has been billed as a grudge match against former coach Carl Robinson who defected to the Wanderers.

The Newcastle Herald understands about 4000 tickets had been sold for the double-header before yesterday's announcement, well below the 25 per cent capacity of between 6000-7000.

The changes apply to all A-League matches in NSW.

Central Coast Mariners host Western Sydney in Gosford on Tuesday night.

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