BOBBY Burns made an eye-catching debut and the Jets created enough chances to beat Sydney FC but the return of the old firm, Nigel Boogaard and Nikolai Topor-Stanley, was the biggest positive from a pre-season hit out in Dubbo.
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Boogaard started and got through 45 minutes on the scoreless draw at Apex Oval on Saturday - his first appearance since knee surgery in the off-season.
Topor-Stanley. who missed a chunk of the pre-season with a calf strain, played 75 minutes and didn't miss a beat.
The veterans led the league in most defensive categories last season.
"It was good to get them back playing minutes," Jets right fullback Matt Millar said. "The amount of games they have between them. They have a calming influence on the team and make life easier for you. Their positioning and just their experience. They help you play."
Dimi Petratos hit the post with a penalty after Kaine Sheppard was brought down in the box by Ryan McGowan.
Steve Ugarkovic was also denied by the woodwork late in the game.
"We created some great chances," Millar said. "It was quite an open game, which was good for the fans. We were really happy with the way we played, the goals will come. That is just the last little bit."
Sydney star Milos Ninkovic missed a golden opportunity when he blazed wide from just inside the area and Adam Le Fondre rattled the post in the second half.
Burns, a Northern Ireland under-21 representative who touched down Tuesday on loan from Scottish Premier League club Hearts, came in at left back, with Jason Hoffman pushed forward to the right wing. Kaine Sheppard started at the point of the attack for Abdiel Arroyo, who is still feeling the effects of a ankle issue.
"Hoff is pretty versatile and he shifted from left back to right wing and Bobby came in," Millar said. "Bobby only arrived from Scotland on Tuesday but he fitted in really well. He has a lovely left foot and whipped in some really dangerous balls and got up and down. He did quite well considering he just got off the plane and was not used to the heat. It was quite a muggy day."
A dust storm blanketed the city on match morning but had eased by the 3pm kick-off.
"The dust was pretty bad in the morning, but thankfully conditions improved," Millar said. "It was bit muggy but not too bad. It was good to get another 90 minutes against A-League opposition. We matched up quite well against them. We had a really positive game."
Sydney coach Steve Corica also took plenty of positives from the friendly.
"We dominated most of that game but towards the end it got a bit too open and transitional," he said. "Other than that, we created more chances than they did and I'm very pleased considering we had a couple of players out as well.
"Defensively we were very good again, especially first half, and the goals will come. We're creating some good chances and the build up play was very good."
