Before the senior team tackles a mouth-watering F3 Derby on Sunday in Gosford, the youth team will get first crack on Saturday in Adamstown.
With the Jets and Mariners sitting level on six points, albeit the Jets with a game in hand, with almost half the Foxtel Y-League season played it’s shaping as a do-or-die clash for both sides.
Newcastle enjoyed the bye last weekend, which would have given Labi Haliti ample time to work on things on the training paddock.
A-LEAGUE: Roy’s back
Their last outing was a disappointing 3-0 drubbing at the hands of league leaders, Western Sydney Wanderers.
It’s a largely Newcastle feel to the Y-League side which will take on the Central Coast on Saturday afternoon, so expect a bit of spice in this one.
The Mariners have won two games from five this season, beating Canberra in the opening round of the league and the Wanderers in round 3.
They have lost their previous two outings though, going down to both Sydney and Western Sydney 2-0.
Team news
Injuries have largely evaded Labi Haliti’s team, thanks in part to the week’s break the boys enjoyed with the bye.
After the result in the last outing though, a 3-0 drubbing at the hands of the Wanderers, could the boss ring in the changes?
There could be some first team players parachuted into the squad too.
Mitch Austin is one player who wasn’t named in Ernie Merrick’s squad to travel to Gosford on Sunday, and has played in a number of Foxtel Y-League games thus far this season.
From the boss
“It’s been a good two weeks, obviously the result was disappointing but we’ve moved on from that and we’re looking forward to the local derby,” Labi Haliti said.
“Having the bye last week, the boys are raring to go and you can see that in training.
“Coming from a player’s point of view, when the derbies used to be on, I always used to like it and I’m sure the local players will be up for it.
“If you think too much about the fact that it’s a derby, you can get caught up in that and you can lose focus on your job and what you have to do. We have to do the little things right.
“We all know the Y-League season is a short season, and as you get closer to the end it’s harder to draw points. We’re concentrating on one game at a time, the next game is the Mariners at home, and we’re looking forward to it.”
