NEWCASTLE JETS v WELLINGTON PHOENIX
Newcastle Jets squad: Jack Duncan (gk), 2. Dane Ingham, 3. Jason Hoffman, 5. Matthew Jurman (co-captain), 6. Brandon O’Neill (co-captain), 7. Trent Buhagiar, 8. Beka Dartsmelia, 9. Beka Mikeltadze, 10. Reno Piscopo, 11. Jaushua Sotirio, 14. Mohamed Al-Taay, 17. Kosta Grozos, 18. Daniel Stynes, 19. Callum Timmins, 20. Michael Weier (gk), 23. Rory Jordan, 24. James McGarry, 25. Carl Jenkinson (co-captain), 26. Archie Goodwin, 30. Noah James (gk), 32. Angus Thurgate, 33. Mark Natta.
In: Archie Goodwin
Out: Jordan Elsey (suspended)
Squad analysis: Archie Goodwin is back in the Newcastle Jets squad after missing Round 2 through international duty with the Young Socceroos. Beka Mikeltadze got off the mark in Round 2 – Newcastle’s first game of the season after the opening-round washout of the F3 Derby – and the Georgian striker will look to continue to find the back of the net and keep pace with golden boot leader Jamie Maclaren.
Wellington Phoenix squad: 3. Finn SURMAN, 4. Scott WOOTTON, 5. Steven UGARKOVIC, 6. Tim PAYNE, 7. Kosta BARBAROUSES, 8. Ben OLD, 9. Oskar ZAWADA, 11. Bozhidar KRAEV, 13. Nicholas PENNINGTON, 17. Callan ELLIOT, 18. Ben WAINE, 19. Sam SUTTON, 20. Oli SAIL (gk), 21. Joshua LAWS, 23. Clayton LEWIS, 24. Oskar VAN HATTUM, 35. Noah KARUNARATNE, 36. Riley BIDOIS, 40. Alex PAULSEN (gk)
In: 35. Noah KARUNARATNE (promoted), 36. Riley BIDOIS (promoted)
Out: 12. Lucas MAURAGIS (ineligible to play parent club)
Unavailable: 10. David Ball (injured), 12. Lucas MAURAGIS (ineligible to play parent club), 14. Alex RUFER (injured), 31. Yan SASSE (suspended)
Squad analysis: Lucas Mauragis is ineligible to play against the Jets after his off-season loan from Newcastle to Wellington, leaving a vacancy in the Phoenix defence for head coach Ufuk Talay to fill. Higher up the park, the ‘Nix had Brazilian Yan Sasse’s three-game suspension reduced from three games to two – meaning he’s ineligible to contend for one of his side’s two number 10 positions for one more week.
Ben Waine, meanwhile is in brilliant form after scoring two goals in two games to start the campaign. The ‘Nix striker came off the bench in Round 1 before playing in Sasse’s place in Round 2 – and is impressing early doors.