Rejuvenated Newcastle striker Tara Andrews hopes the Jets can pounce on a Katrina Gorry-free Brisbane Roar and start their A-League Women campaign on a high note.
Brisbane will be without Gorry, who is the heart and soul of their team, for roughly the first month of the season as she takes a pre-planned break.
Midfield responsibilities will fall to Ayesha Norrie and Hollie Palmer, but the Roar will miss Gorry’s class and drive.
The absence of the Matildas midfielder is something the new-look Jets hope can help them cause an upset at Perry Park on Saturday.
“That’d be good. That’s how we want to kick off our campaign,” Newcastle stalwart Andrews told AAP.
“Brisbane are always a tough team. They’ve got a good core group of players that are always tough to play.
“So it’s going to be challenging for us, but we’re ready for it and really excited to get started and hopefully get those three points.
“We’ve got four new internationals, really exciting players, that have played in other leagues across the world.
“It’s exciting times and we’ve probably got something special to show this season.”
Andrews, a towering striker, focused on improving her fitness over the off-season and will be crucial to the Jets’ hopes of finishing higher than last season’s eighth place.
“I only got a couple of goals last year, so I’d love to get a few more this year,” she said.
“With a longer season you get more opportunity to play, more opportunity to build on your game throughout the season.
“That (fitness) was probably something lacking in my game – I’m a stand-up striker where I try and play players in and then I have to get in the box.
“So getting a bit fitter – so I can make that run back into the box and get in those goalscoring positions – I’ve been working hard on that in the off-season.
“Hopefully it shows coming into the season.”
