A win finally on the board for the Newcastle Jets after Friday night’s victory at Homebush, the boys will have waited almost nine days to take to the pitch once more.
Consecutive away games will this week see the Jets head to Melbourne’s AAMI Park, to take on City.
W-LEAGUE: All is Wright as Gilliland returns
Here are five things to know ahead of our second successive away match.
On the board
After a number of positive performances with very little to show for it, the Jets finally picked up all three points last Friday night.
Given the congested nature of the ladder at this early stage of the season, a win on Sunday could propel Newcastle as high as third in the standings.
What is for certain, is that another three points would push the Jets up into at least the top six and see us leapfrog City.
Ins and outs
There may be some forced player movement on Ernie Merrick’s part this weekend, with Jair and Daniel Georgievski battling to overcome injuries.
Jair has picked up a hip injury, while scans confirmed Daniel Georgievski has suffered a minor groin tear.
Neither injury is particularly serious though, which means the pair will be fighting hard for inclusion in the squad on Sunday.
Could it mean a return to the squad for Johnny Koutroumbis, a start for Ivan Vujica or Mitch Austin, or even Angus Thurgate propelled into the starting line-up?
Only time, and Ernie, will tell.
Familiar faces
As is often the case in the Hyundai A-League, Sunday night’s fixture will see a number of players come up against former clubs.
The most notable of these currently among City ranks is Riley McGree, who scored against his current club with THAT scorpion kick back in April’s semi-final clash.
For the Jets, Jason Hoffman will return to AAMI Park where he spent four seasons with first Melbourne Heart, then City.
Team of the week
It was an outstanding effort to pick up said three points last weekend, and two players in particular were recognised for their efforts.
Nikolai Topor-Stanley and Glen Moss were named in the Hyundai A-League Round 5 Team of the Week.
Two elder statesmen of the Jets team, the pair were absolutely crucial to the win in Western Sydney – expect big performances to back that up on Sunday.
The #ALeague Team of the Week for Round 5. pic.twitter.com/QlZqMZ2AuZ
— Isuzu UTE A-League (@aleaguemen) November 26, 2018
An FFA Cup rematch
While the semi-final encounter between City and the Jets may stand out in a number of Novocastrian minds, you can’t forget September’s meeting in the Cup.
City triumphed 1-0 on that day, in a tight match which could have easily gone every way.
It was the furthest the Jets had ever gone in the Cup, and could be something of a catalyst to help fire the boys up in the fight for three points come Sunday.
