Arthur Papas says coming up against a Wanderers side stacked with former Jets on Sunday at CommBank Stadium doesn't come into his calculations.
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Papas, though, is comfortable in the knowledge his new-look Jets A-League squad are "desperate to play for this club" and are not using it as a "stepping stone".
The Jets will look to bounce back from a 2-1 opening-round F3 Derby loss to the Mariners in another clash sure to pique the interest of fans.
With ex-Jets coach Carl Robinson in charge, Western Sydney had five recent Newcastle players in their starting side for the round-one scoreless draw with Sydney.
Asked if the situation added any spice to the game for him, Papas said: "It doesn't come into any calculation from my side, whoever leaves you wish them the best, but we're not worried about who isn't here anymore.
"We don't even think about it. I think the boys who have come in are really desperate to play for this club and that's the main message.
"You want to be desperate to play for this club, not just use it as a stepping stone, and I think that's why we've really looked at certain types of characters as well, that are in it for the long haul and not just here to make a step."
Missed chances then two goals conceded early in the second half last Sunday left Newcastle chasing the game and Papas frustrated with time-wasting tactics.
He appealed on Thursday for more action from officials.
"We want to try to play a brand of football that creates an identity and also excites people as well," he said. "The game was a bit frustrating on the weekend because the momentum was consistently stopped. I hope for the league's sake, with the new TV deal and people wanting to tune in, that these things don't keep happening.
"We had the lowest match minutes of any game in the league on the weekend and it was about 15 minutes less than what a normal match looks like.
"I just hope that that's taken on board, that we're trying to play a real aggressive style of football and there's a responsibility for the whole league to play a brand of football people want to watch.
"I think we're on track for doing that and hopefully that's something officials take note of as well - time-wasting and slowing the game down ... I think there's an obligation from the officials to make sure we're not giving a yellow card out for slowing the game down in the 91st minute, we're giving it in the 35th minute."
Jason Hoffman came off early against the Mariners with an adductor complaint but he trained on Thursday and Papas said "he's in a position to still play this week".
He said another option at left-back, Dylan Murnane, was back in the reckoning after missing round one with injury. Lucas Mauragis has returned from Olyroos duty and quarantine this week but he may have to bide his time.
"There's possibly some changes, we know we're coming up against a good team, a team that's put a hell of a squad together as well, but we'll be ready and whoever gets picked will be ready to put that jersey on and play very well," Papas said.
"Dylan is definitely back in the reckoning for this week, Mario [Arqués] again we'll see over the next two sessions what it looks like.
"Dylan was probably OK to play last week but being round one, I know it was a derby match, but we're looking at a whole season, not just one match, and we want to have as many available as possible.
"The positive at the moment that we've pretty much got everyone available.
"[Hoffman] has actually recovered really well.
"We're quite fortunate that he's obviously copped a knock on the hip and it's displaced a little bit, but the good thing about that it's not really a muscular issue so he's in a position to still play this week."
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