Apostolos Stamatelopoulos believes the Jets' edge in experience will be an advantage when Newcastle take on a young Adelaide side at Coopers Stadium on Friday night.
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And the striker should know.
Stamatelopoulos started his career with Adelaide, his home-town club, where he came through the ranks alongside many of the Reds' young brigade.
He went on to play 15 times for Adelaide in the A-League from 2017-2019 before joining new club Western United last season.
"They are a young team and we've got a lot of experience here," Stamatelopoulos said of Adelaide on Monday.
"Most of their experienced players are injured. They've just brought back Craig Goodwin, so there's some experience, you could say, but I think their team is very young.
"I grew up playing with all those boys in the youth team, so I think if we get on top of them early, it will be more in our favour."
The former Young Socceroo, now 21, made his debut for Newcastle on Sunday night in the 2-0 loss to Wellington Phoenix at McDonald Jones Stadium, coming off the bench for the final 31 minutes.
While he missed a golden chance to score in injury time, the man known as 'AP' was glad to get an opportunity.
"It was disappointing the result, but it was good to get out there after a while," he said.
"I mean, the last time I got out on the pitch, it was when I played last year for Western United in the hub, so it's been a while. I dusted off a few cobwebs, so it was good.
"I should have a done a little bit better with that toe-poke right at the end. Either side of the keeper and I think that was going in, but I'll just keep looking forward and next week we play Adelaide, so it would be good to score one against my old team.
"Nothing personal, but you want to put on a great performance against your old team, I think any player would say that."
Stamatelopoulos had not played in the A-League since final-minute appearances for Western United in last season's finals.
He came to Newcastle in late January in search of more game time and became eligible to play on February 16.
Jets coach Craig Deans said the debut of Stamatelopoulos was a positive in a largely frustrating night for Newcastle, who slipped from sixth to ninth place on a congested table with the loss.
Wellington ended Newcastle's unbeaten streak at five games to bring themselves off the bottom of the ladder.
"I thought AP, off the bench, showed some good energy and brought something to the game," Deans said in the post-game press conference.
"And the same with Ali [Abbas] and Tete [Yengi] as well. It's the longest Tete's been on the pitch and I thought he looked quite comfortable and he was good.
"It wasn't a bad performance, it was just a frustrating night."
Stamatelopoulos was hoping to build on the debut effort against Adelaide, who are fifth, just two points ahead of Newcastle, on 13.
"I had a little back concern last week but that's basically gone now," he said.
"I got on the pitch for 30 minutes and I felt reasonably comfortable so hopefully next week, step it up a little bit more and get a bit more fitness into me.
"All the boys here, they are a great bunch of boys. I mean, everyone pushes each other hard and I like to think I'm a hard worker when I train, so it's good Deansy has rewarded me with coming off the bench."
Asked if he would have family and friends at the game, he smiled: "I've got a big Greek family so a few of them will be there."