Central Coast Mariners and Newcastle Jets begin their 2020-21 A-League campaign with a fixture at the Central Coast Stadium on Thursday.
While the home side finished at the bottom of the standings last season, nine wins from 26 matches were enough for the visitors to claim eighth position.
Match preview
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Despite spending the past few years competing at the bottom end of the standings, there is optimism that the Mariners can finally make some headway up the A-League ladder.
Rather than make a change in the dugout, Alen Stajcic has been kept in charge, and the 47-year-old will acknowledge that he needs widespread improvements to keep hold of his position.
Having recorded the worst defensive and attacking records during the 2019-20 edition, there have been a number of comings and goings in the first-team squad.
Oliver Bozanic is a notable addition having left Scottish side Hearts, but last season's top goalscorer Milan Duric has departed the club after just one year.
While the Mariners endured a dismal 2020, they were able to end last season by recording five points from their final three matches.
Since finishing as runners-up in 2018, the Jets have returned to mid-table obscurity, finishing the most recent two seasons in seventh and eighth place respectively.
Despite penning a long-term contract at the beginning of 2020, Carl Robinson has left for Western Sydney Wanderers, a move which has led to the reins being given to Craig Deans on an interim basis.
The club stalwart is having to work with a limited squad, but Deans will back himself to build on the club putting together a five-match unbeaten streak at the end of the most recent campaign.
Losing top goalscorer Dimitri Petratos is a significant blow, but veteran frontman Roy O'Donovan will be motivated to get one over his former club.
Central Coast Mariners Australian A-League form: LLLDDW
Newcastle Jets Australian A-League form: LWWDWW
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Stajcic must decide whether to hand a debut to midfield duo Bozanic and Stefan Jankovic.
Costa Rica international Marco Urena is also in contention to make his first start for the Mariners.
Jack Duncan, Ramy Najjarine and Valentino Yuel will all expect to feature for the Jets after their arrival during the break.
Former Sunderland player O'Donovan, now 35 years of age, should also line up in attack.
Central Coast Mariners possible starting lineup:
Birighitti; Clisby, Rowles, Tongyik, Nigro; Nisbet, Stensness, Bozanic, Silvera; Simon, Urena
Newcastle Jets possible starting lineup:
Duncan; O'Toole, Boogaard, Koutroumbis, Hoffman; Ugarkovic, Mauragis, Kantarovski; Najjarine, O'Donovan, Yuel
We say: Central Coast Mariners 1-2 Newcastle Jets
While the Mariners will be motivated to improve on last season's effort, we cannot ignore the lack of quality which was on show at both ends of the pitch. With that in mind, the Jets appear more likely to claim the three points on Thursday.
