Ruben Zadkovich is adamant they Jets will be after nothing less than all three points when they take on Wellington on Wednesday.
The Newcastle Jets may not have won at Westpac Stadium since 2007, but captain Ruben Zadkovich is adamant they will be after nothing less than all three points when they take on Wellington Phoenix on Wednesday night.
The Jets are currently sitting level on 27 points with Melbourne Heart and Sydney FC, but can apply pressure to both of those sides with a win over Wellington.
Zadkovich said the Jets planned to confront the challenge of a short turnaround for the mid-week game head on.
“We-re looking to go out there and beat Wellington,” Zadkovich said.
“We feel that we have the squad to do so and we feel like we-ve prepared well so we-re definitely going there with a positive mindset to get three points.
“It-s going to be a massive game. We just need to focus on the little things and try and forget about the history, go over there with a positive mindset and try to get a result.
“We-re excited. It-s the business end of the season and this is where we really get to put our best foot forward and try to get into the finals, so we-re really pumped.”
Zadkovich is confident that the Jets- poor record in Wellington will not be a factor on Wednesday night.
“I think what helps is that we have a lot of young players who haven-t been there that many times and for them that issue doesn-t really mean anything, it-s new experiences,” he said.
“We-ve got a really good squad and a good chance to get something out of this game.”
Jets forward Marko Jesic has been included in the Jets- travelling squad for the trip to Wellington and could be in line to make his first appearance of the season for the Jets.
“Marko-s got a lot of experience, he-s been around the game for a long time,” Zadkovich said.
“He-s gone through some horrific injuries which are well and truly past him and I think that makes him a stronger person.
“He turns up to training with the right attitude and he really puts in and if he-s selected I know he-ll do the job. I-ve got the utmost confidence in him.”
With five rounds of the regular season remaining, any number of outcomes could be possible in the race for the remaining spots in the top six.
Zadkovich said it was pleasing to know the Jets- destiny is in their own hands.
“To be honest, the more I look at the ladder, the more I just think that it-s all in our own hands,” Zadkovich said.
“We-ve just got to focus on ourselves, and if we can do that and play to our ability, I think we-ll be in the finals.
It-s very tight and everyone is playing for those final two spots and I think it-s going to come right down to the wire.
