It’s an unchanged 18-man squad set to travel to Melbourne this weekend, as Ernie Merrick looks to keep things consistent.
With Glen Moss still on the outs list and Joey Champness not quite ready to return to the fray, the same 18 will be in consideration for Sunday afternoon in Melbourne.
Lewis Italiano, who had deputised throughout the season so far, stepped into the fray against Brisbane and acquitted himself well despite the two goals that went through.
REPORT: Shared spoils start New Year
Although the squad remains the same, the suggestion from the boss throughout the week is that rotation may be the flavour of the weekend.
We saw it on the weekend, with the likes of Steven Ugarkovic and Jair on the bench in order to help the pair regain some of that freshness into the legs that a recent tough period may have sapped.
Johnny Koutroumbis was a beneficiary of the changes rung in, playing his first 90 minutes of the season, and despite that he’d be desperate to start and play consecutive matches for the first time this season.
Nick Cowburn and Angus Thurgate are also back in the mix after missing out on Wednesday night.
Newcastle Jets: 3.Jason HOFFMAN, 4.Nigel BOOGAARD (c), 5.Ben KANTAROVSKI, 6.Steven UGARKOVIC, 7.Dimi PETRATOS, 8.Jair, 9.Roy O’DONOVAN, 10.Ronald VARGAS, 14.Kaine SHEPPARD, 16.Nick COWBURN, 17.Daniel GEORGIEVSKI, 18.Johnny KOUTROUMBIS, 20.Lewis ITALIANO (gk), 22.Lachlan JACKSON, 23.Matthew RIDENTON, 32.Angus THURGATE, 40.Noah JAMES (gk), 44.Nikolai TOPOR-STANLEY
**two to be omitted**
Ins: 16.Nick COWBURN (promoted), 32.Angus THURGATE (promoted)
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: 1.Glen MOSS (quad – 1 week), 24.Joe CHAMPNESS (foot – TBC)
