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Newcastle defender Jordan Elsey says an in-form and rested Jets will hold nothing back in their A-League Men's match against high-flying Melbourne Victory.
Newcastle defender Jordan Elsey says a rested and confident Jets will hold nothing back in Saturday's A-League Men's clash against Melbourne Victory.
The Jets hopes of sneaking into this year's finals received a massive boost with last week's 6-1 thumping of hapless Perth, putting themselves six points outside the top six with six games to play in their home-and-away fixture.
Saturday's opponent may well be a different kettle of fish to the injury-hit and last-placed Glory, with Victory sitting third and on a 10-match ALM unbeaten run, but it doesn't intimidate Elsey.
"Getting off to a strong start is so important to us, we've been speaking about it all week," Elsey said.
"All the boys are switched on and ready for that first whistle when we'll be coming out strong.
"We know when we play our football and do what we need to do we run over teams."
Victory head to Newcastle seeking revenge for a 2-1 loss to the Jets at AAMI Park in February where two goals in the second-half after a Joshua Brilliante red-card turned the match in the visitor's favour.
If Tony Popovic's men, who battled to a goalless draw against Brisbane Roar last Tuesday, can avoid defeat again, it will set a new club record for the longest unbeaten league run in the Victory's history.
Both teams are expected to make changes with captain Matt Jurman and Angus Thurgate both suspended but Taylor Regan and Olivier Boumal to return from injury for the hosts.
Victory, meanwhile, will get Matt Spiranovic back after he was rested against the Roar while Jake Brimmer has been ruled out after suffering a concussion late in the goalless draw with Brisbane.
"The teams that Tony Popovic builds are always physically very good as well and you can see that in the results," Jets coach Arthur Papas said.
"The most important thing is that we play at our intensity.
"We also can play at a real high intensity and we need to play it for the full length of the match. The start will be important but also how the game finishes will be important as well physically."
