Melbourne Victory's remarkable 5-4 win against Western Sydney on Friday night enabled the former juggernauts to climb off the bottom of the ladder for the first time in months, leapfrogging Newcastle into second-last position.

Victory have accrued 14 competition points from 17 games, compared to Newcastle's 13 points from 18 games, which mean the Jets need at least a draw against United or they will remain last, with a further seven games to play.

The Jets, who have finished with the wooden spoon three times previously, have firmed to $1.62 favourites with TAB to add another to their collection this season.

The Victory, who last week appointed interim coach Steve Kean to replace Grant Brebner, until Tony Popovic starts a three-season tenure in July, are now at $2.20.

With pressure mounting after a nine-game winless run, Deans has welcomed the return of three of his most senior players: skipper Nigel Boogaard, winger Jason Hoffman and defender Johnny Koutroumbis.

All were named in Newcastle's squad and flew to Melbourne on Sunday for back-to-back games against United and Melbourne City, on Thursday.

Boogaard and Koutroumbis have been sidelined for five games apiece with a fractured leg and knee injury respectively.

Hoffman, meanwhile, sat out last week's 2-all draw with Macarthur Bulls after he aggravated a groin injury that caused him to miss five games earlier in the season.

Boogaard and Koutroumbis trained strongly last Thursday and Deans said both were "ahead of schedule", although he was unsure at the time if they would be available to play on Monday night.

The experience offered by Boogaard (269 games), Hoffman (234) and Koutroumbis (85) will be a huge boost for a Newcastle team who, after seven consecutive defeats and back-to-back draws, are searching for their first win since February 21.

The other significant change to Newcastle's team sheet will be the inclusion of another seasoned campaigner, midfielder Steven Ugarkovic, in the starting line-up.

Ugarkovic missed three games, partly because of a back injury, amid speculation a mid-season transfer to Western Sydney was imminent.

But he came off the bench and scored a long-range screamer against Macarthur, prompting Deans to declare he deserves a recall to the first XI.

"He's definitely put his hand up and we will find a way to get him in the team somehow," Deans said.

"You have to reward people's performance ... he got his opportunity at half time and he came on and played well, and obviously scored a nice goal."

United, who will be without suspended defender Brendan Hamill, can leapfrog Western Sydney Wanderers into sixth position if they draw with or beat Newcastle.

Meanwhile, A-League officials have released the next phase of the competition fixture list.

The Jets will have three consecutive home games, against Sydney FC (May 8), Central Coast (May 15) and Brisbane Roar (May 21).

They then face back-to-back away games against Melbourne City (May 29) and Central Coast (June 1), before a final-round home game against Perth on a date still to be confirmed.