Jenna Kingsley believes team chemistry could be the key to Newcastle success this season as the Jets prepare to host big guns Melbourne City in round one at No.2 Sportsground on Sunday.
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The Jets have no big-name players nor imports this campaign and are poised to face former teammate and captain Emily van Emgond this weekend.
The long-serving Matildas midfielder is one of City's key signings this year, along with Australian teammate Ellie Carpenter. They join a host of past and present internationals in the highly fancied Melbourne side.
But Kingsley, who has played with Newcastle for the past four seasons, was backing the home-grown Jets to produce a strong first outing this weekend.
"Obviously Melbourne City have got new players and they probably haven't had as long [together] as we have," Kingsley said.
"We've kept the majority of girls from last year so I think that's going to be a bonus for us this year, with having the team chemistry."
While suggesting they might have someone on van Egmond "like a tattoo", Kingsley said City had plenty of players across the park who could hurt the Jets.
Newcastle finished last season with a flourish while some of their big-name signings, including van Egmond, were sidelined through injury and 27-year-old Kingsley was confident they could pick up where they left off.
"We won three of the last four with no big-name players, so that's obviously got to show something," the Jets striker said.
"We knocked off Perth who were in the semis as well. So I think the team chemistry within the girls and not having those divided groups is going to be a strength on the field because we're going to all want to work for each other and really put in to get the result."
Kingsley, who scored 43 goals in Herald Women's Premier League this year, was excited by Newcastle's attacking options. Coach Craig Deans has added fleet-footed strike weapons Lauren Allan and Nicki Flannery to his squad, which already includes former Matilda and WPL player of the year Tara Andrews plus young gun Teigan Collister.
The game on Sunday kicks off at 6pm.
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