For the past three months, the Jets have been pushing themselves to the limit.

To a man, the players have described the pre-season as the most intense and physically demanding they have encountered.

Now, with less than four weeks to their A-League opener against the Mariners, they get an opportunity to test themselves - and Papas' up-tempo style - under pressure.

The hit out, which will be played behind closed doors over three 45-minute periods, is the Jets' first against A-League opposition and follows successive wins over Northern NSW club Broadmeadow Magic.

Sydney FC thumped Macarthur 5-0 in their most recent trial game, with imports Bobo and Adam Le Fondre each netting doubles.

"This is a good opportunity to play against a very good team, which obviously hit the ground running in their first pre-season game," Papas said. "For us, it is a good challenge. Let's go there and see where we are at. The expectation is to perform well. It's a chance to get some fitness, work on the way we want to play and build some relationships. Then just keep building.

"They need to build some confidence, they need a few hits as well .... a bit of adversity, a few setbacks. That is part of growing as a team.

"It is a good opportunity for individuals to show how they are progressing. We have had such a different pre-season. We still have to give players an opportunity to get minutes without making calls early on an eleven."

Papas has overhauled the roster since replacing Craig Deans and has welcomed 15 fresh faces.

Foreigners Beka Mikletadze, Olivier Boumal, Daniel Penha and Savvas Siatravanis will suit up against Sydney.

However, Spanish midfielder Mario Arques, who has completed one week of training since quarantine, won't be risked. Jordan Elsey, Archie Goodwin and Ben Kantarovski are also out.

Mikeltadze and Penha impressed at training on Monday.

Striker Mikeltadze, a Georgian international, has a wicked right boot and appears to be a clinical finisher.

Penha is sharp on his feet, has great vision and an astute passing game.

His combination with Mikeltadz, in particular, is promising.

Papas has also been happy with the way wingers, Cameroon international Boumal and Greek flyer Siatravanis have settled.

"Mario is progressing well but we will be careful with him," Pappas said. "All the guys who have come through quarantine - two weeks in a room where you can't move more than 10 metres - its a fine line with them.

"Ollie was struggling a bit but he has come back again and is OK. Daniel is moving well. Beka is good. He has been here the longest. Savvas is moving better now. It has taken him a couple of weeks.

"The foreigners are all good characters. We have players, especially in the front third, who will give us some options and a bit of dynamism we were looking for.

"This will obviously be the first time they will have played against a very good A-League team. It is a good chance for them to understand what the landscape is like here football wise."

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After Sydney, the Jets will take on APIA Leichhardt and Macarthur before the FFA Cup qualifier against Western United in Melbourne on November 13.

"We are getting closer now so every game is important for them to put their best foot forward and give themselves an opportunity to be ready for FFA Cup and round one," Papas said.

"We have a schedule locked in now, which is good. We will have to travel to Sydney a few times in the next couple of weeks because teams can't travel up here [due to COVID-19 restrictions].

"Everyone will get a good run tomorrow. We are mixing it up to give everyone an opportunity to play the type of minutes we think they are ready to play. Some are ready for 90 minutes, some 75 minutes, and some 45 minutes.

"The next game we will try and get as many minutes into players as possible. Normally by now in pre-season we would have played seven games.

"You have to be as ready as you can be in the circumstances you are given. There is not going to be an excuses that we are not ready. We have to be ready."

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