While their male counterparts are afforded the luxury of 26 rounds, which means a slow start can be easily overcome with a run of form, teams can quickly find themselves well off the pace without results in the women's game.

It has been what has cost the Jets in the past two seasons.

The addition of a 10th team in Wellington Phoenix means clubs have two extra games this campaign but Davis is well aware of the importance of getting a positive result when they launch their season against Sydney FC at Netstrata Jubliee Stadium on Saturday.

A win against the defending premiers and perennial competition heavyweights would not only gift Newcastle three points, it would also set the tone for a season in which the Jets are eyeing a return to finals football after a three-season absence.

"You can't really get away with losing too many games in this competition at the start, so to get three points straight up would be ideal for us and that's what we're going down to play for," Davis said.

"It's a no-brainer - we need to come out with the win."

The Jets face the Sky Blues after a six-week pre-season. That has included three trial games but for most of the players this round-one match will be their first competitive hit-out, with points on the line, for four or five months due to the coronavirus pandemic.

"[Pre-season] has been really good," Davis said. "It's been tough and a little bit different to last year, but I feel like we're fitter.

"We played a couple of games against the [Jets Academy] boys and [Western Sydney] Wanderers and, although the result didn't go our way, there were a lot of positive signs and [Jets coach] Ash [Wilson] is really happy with how we've been going in the pre-season.

"Sydney's Sydney. Everyone always knows that they're a quality team. They've played together for years but we have too. I'm expecting it will be a good game and it's always one that we want to get up on Sydney."

The W-League has been rebranded to A-League Women this year and non-bank lender Liberty was announced on Wednesday as the naming rights partner of the competition.

The ALW starts with newcomers Wellington playing Wanderers at WIN Stadium and Canberra United hosting Melbourne City at Viking Park on Friday.

Meanwhile, Perth coach Alex Epakis believes Lisa De Vanna has rediscovered her love of the game since joining Glory but remains tight-lipped about whether he would start the former Matildas star against Brisbane in Perth tomorrow night.

De Vanna rocked Australian football last month when she aired allegations of historical sexual harassment, abuse and bullying she suffered during her international career.

Melbourne Victory play Adelaide at AAMI Park on Sunday.

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