Since the start of pre-season in July, new coach Arthur Papas has welcomed 16 new players through the door and implemented an up-tempo, aggressive style designed to entertain and, more importantly, win games.

"It is an opportunity to play in front of our supporters for the first time," said Papas, who took over the controls this season after a disappointing 2020-21 campaign in which the Jets finished 11^th.

^"That is where the opportunity is; to do something special for them. They haven't had too much of that in recent times. That is where a huge amount of motivation lies at the moment."

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, pre-season games have been played behind closed doors.

The unlucky 2-1 loss to Western United in the FFA Cup qualifier last Saturday, which was broadcast, was the first look at the rebuilt outfit.

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The Jets were wrongly denied a goal, had 59 per cent of possession and crafted 21 chances to six. But in the end they paid the ultimate price for two mistakes.

"I genuinely believe the performance was good enough last week to get a result," Papas said. "I am looking for consistency in the performance and, more importantly, we want to have it in front of our supporters. That is the most important part for us this week - to do it in front of them.

"We got a lot of belief out of last week physically. We are going to play our football and we are going to play at a high intensity."

Spanish midfielder Mario Arques and left back Dylan Murnane, after missing the FFA Cup match, have both trained well this week, but it is unlikely that Papas will make many changes.

"Mario and Dylan got through yesterday and today which were both solid sessions," Papas said. "It leaves me with a bit of a headache, which is a nice thing to have for round one.

"The work is done. Now it is making sure that we are nice and fresh and ready to come out of the blocks."

The Jets went down 1-0 to their fierce rivals in Gosford in the corresponding game last season - the first of four straight defeats to open the season for Newcastle.

The Mariners went on to be one of the surprise packets of the league, finishing third.

Coach Alen Stajcic left and was replaced by Nick Montgomery. Key men Gianni Stensness, Daniel De Silva and,Jack Clisby also departed.

However, their spine of Mark Birighitti, Ruon Tongyik, Oliver Bozanic and Marco Urena remains.

"The whole team deserves a lot of respect because it is a team that finished third on the ladder last year," Papas said. "We are under no illusions. It is a very tough game and they are a very good team. We expect them to try and take the game to us.

"They are going to want to improve and we want to be a different proposition to last season. It is a huge challenge that we are ready for."

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