EVERGREEN Jets stopper Nikolai Topor-Stanley is accustomed to the rigours of an A-League pre-season.
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Approaching his 13th season, the 34-year-old knows exactly what is required to get his body to peak condition for round one.
Howoever, the birth of his second child, son Remy, two month's ago, and a lack of sleep associated with parenting has tested his endurance.
"I feel like a real dad now," Topor-Stanley said after training Tuesday. "The first baby was just a trial run. We certainly have our hands full. It's a great period of my life that I'm enjoying.
"That is the beauty of football. You are here to focus. When you are on the park, nothing else matters. That is what I love about the game. Being around the boys is a different environment.
"Being at home is great too. Even though I am tired and get to come home to screaming babies at times, but it makes it all worth it at the end of the night."
Topor-Stanley hasn't missed a game in two years.
"I'm just trying to get as fit as possible," he said. "Push my body to the limit to be ready for the first game of the season."
When it comes to team preparation, Topor-Stanley has a similar approach.
The Jets take on Western Sydney in a friendly at Parklea on Wednesday, which is a final hit out ahead of the FFA Cup round of 32 clash against Melbourne Victory at AAMI Park on August 7.
"You always want to see where you are at against other teams ... it's more about performance right now and getting match fitness into the legs," Topor Stanley said. "We have a cup game as well and need to prepare for that.
"Ernie hasn't been shy about saying he wants us to be an attacking team. We want to see goals and we want to entertain the fans. Putting those things into process tomorrow is the first step."
For a second straight year, the Jets have retained the majority of the squad. Matt Millar, Nick Fitzgerald and Panamanian striker Ebdiel Arroyo are the only new faces.
"The most consistent teams results-wise have always had a good core of players who have turned over year after year and don't really need an introduction to each other," Topor-Stanley said. "I think we have that here."
Scholarship players Maki Petratos and Jack Simmons are in the squad to take on Wanderers, who are more advanced in their preparations and went down 2-1 to Leeds United 10 days ago.
The Jets had to work hard to beat Northern NSW premiers Edgeworth 1-0 on Saturday in their first hit out.
"We watched a video of the game this morning and I thought Edgeworth did very well," Topor-Stanley said. "They were very organised and made it hard for us. It was the first game, it was more about effort, more about getting the numbers up and we still won. It was nothing to be ashamed about. Playing A-League opposition is always different. They have new players in the squad who will be looking to impress their boss. It will be tough."
Meanwhile, former Jets marquee midfielder Ron Vargas scored on debut for his new club Oostende in a 2-1 upset of Belgian powerhouse Anderlecht.
