A refreshed Sydney FC expect a barnstorming start from a Newcastle side determined to rectify their A-League goalscoring issues.
Heading into round four, Sydney were on top of the ladder, while Newcastle were last with just one point, prior to Saturday's NSW derby at McDonald Jones Stadium.
"They have had a slow start and I think we need to be ready for that," Sydney coach Steve Corica said.
"They will come out all guns blazing. We need to be ready for that especially the first 10 to 15 minutes.
"We know that and we respect that, so we need to be prepared and ready for what they are going to throw at us."
Corica didn't foresee too many, if any, changes to the side which scored a 3-0 last-start away win over Melbourne City.
He said his players had freshened up following a couple of days off in an eight day break between games, after playing three times the previous week.
The Jets intend being aggressive with their press and winning the ball high up the pitch on Saturday, but have scored just two goals this season despite having plenty of shots at goal.
"We've got to find our feet and deliver in that final third," Newcastle defender Lachie Jackson said.
"We created a bucketload of chances in the last few games.
"I think if we can just work on that final ball and that finishing off because our defence has been quite sound
"We've been very aggressive with our play, so if we can translate that into more goals, I think we'll be making our way up the table."
Meanwhile, Sydney FC have confirmed the signing of former Sky Blues youth team captain Jacob Tratt on a short-term injury replacement contract for fellow defender Ben Warland, who suffered a foot injury in the pre-season.
Stats That Matter
* Newcastle will be striving for back-to-back wins over Sydney for just the second time and first since 2012.
*Sydney have scored in their last 14 away games against Newcastle.
*The Jets have gone goalless in four of their last five home games.
Stats supplied by Opta
Australian Associated Press
