THERE isn't too much Jets keeper Jack Duncan doesn't know about Jamie Maclaren.
The pair have been close friends since their time together with the Young Socceroos and at Perth Glory.
Both were at the start of their A-League careers and they spent 18 months as housemates.
"I have known Jamie for a long time and he is one of my good mates," Duncan, 27, said. "We were 21 or 22 when we lived together. He has developed a lot since then. He is a fantastic player, a fantastic striker."
The pair will go head to head when the Jets host Melbourne City at McDonald Jones Stadium on Sunday.
Last season's golden boot winner with 22 goals, Maclaren scored in City's 3-1 loss to Perth last Sunday - his second goal for the campaign.
"I know all about his game," "Duncan said. "He doesn't necessarily get too involved in the build up, but he is deadly in the box.
"We have to be mindful of that - the runs he makes. I will be speaking to the boys in front of me to try and make sure they know where he is.
"His goal-scoring record speaks for itself. We will have our work cut out for us, but we will be up for a good fight."
The Jets are coming off a 1-all draw with Western Sydney last Friday - their fourth game in 13 days.
"If you look how things played out at the start of the season, a point away is not necessarily a bad thing," Duncan said. "But at the same time, we need points."
The Jets will have had a nine-day gap before tackling City.
"It gives us a chance to refresh and reset," he said. "Put a mark behind the six games we have played and reset. We have also been able to get out on the training park and work hard - like we always do - on some things that will put us in good stead for the games to come."
Duncan's form has mirrored that of the team. He has largely performed well but paid the price for lapses - his own and by the team.
"I was a bit unlucky with some of the goals I had conceded," he said. "At the same time, we weren't giving up too many shots. With that I was not making too many saves across the course of a game.
"I had been training well and had a good pre-season and I knew it would come."
The turning point was the 2-1 win over Wellington in round five - a match in which the team didn't play particularly well but they were desperate in defence and Duncan made a series of spectacular saves.
"Across the first four games there were little things we needed to tighten up," Duncan said. "Conceding from set pieces - little things that when things aren't going right for you, end up costing you games. Against Wellington in the second half, sometimes you need that kind of performance. Bed-in and really put in a good defensively display.
"That kick started us and we ended up getting the win, then we had a god result and good performance against Wanderers."
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