Wanderers coach Tony Popovic says Newcastle Jets will lift for new boss Clayton Zane

WANDERERS coach Tony Popovic is expecting the "new-coach bounce" to kick in when Newcastle host Western Sydney on Saturday, warning his players not to be seduced by the impressive display they produced in swatting aside Perth 3-1 on Sunday.

Though the Jets opened the tenure of interim coach Clayton Zane with a limp 3-0 loss to the Mariners on Saturday, Popovic predicted a hostile reception for the Premiers when they visit Hunter Stadium seeking to close further the gap on leaders Brisbane.










Zane will replace the sacked Gary van Egmond at least until the end of the season. A place in the finals is likely to be the minimum requirement to be considered long term.

Though Western Sydney were highly impressive in the defeat of Glory, Popovic cooled suggestions of a crescendo beginning towards the end of the season.








"It's their first home game under new management, and I have no doubt they'll be very keen to perform in front of a passionate home crowd," Popovic said of Saturday's game, which will be Western Sydney's second visit to Newcastle after a 1-0 victory in round 10.


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"We'll be prepared for that, and we know we're in for a really tough match that we can't take lightly. If we can build on what we did against Perth, we'll go there with confidence.

"That first 45 minutes was as good as I've seen in a while, and while we can improve on certain details, it was pleasing that when Perth scored we responded very well.

"But there's still a lot of improvement to come from this group - on another day we could have had four or five ­before half-time."


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While utility player Iacopo La Rocca is out with an ankle injury, both Jerome Polenz and Mateo Poljak returned to training on Tuesday and Popovic said they could be considered on Saturday after extended absences through injury.

Striker Tomi Juric is available after a one-match suspension, but the Jets still have no idea whether Joel Griffiths will be available as the club waits to complete the paperwork and international transfer certificate for his switch from China.





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