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Co-captain Cassidy Davis believes an enforced weekend off may serve as the recharge the Jets needed as they prepare to host Melbourne Victory in a "must-win" match at No.2 Sportsground on Saturday.
Newcastle's round-eight W-League clash with Melbourne City was postponed last weekend after Victoria was plunged into a five-day lockdown due to a cluster of coronavirus cases.
The Jets flew to Melbourne last Friday only to head home the same day. They had the weekend off before returning to training Monday to focus on the important round-nine encounter with Victory.
"It was a bit of a down week, I guess if you could see it like that, and a bit of a refresh," Davis said.
The weekend off means Newcastle's last outing was a 4-2 loss to Victory in Melbourne on February 7.
The Jets have reached their season midpoint and need maximum points this weekend to remain within striking distance of the top four and to keep alive their finals hopes.
They are sixth with four points after six outings while Victory are fifth on 10 to be one point adrift of fourth-placed Canberra.
"Playing Victory again without a game in between could be a good thing," Davis said.
"We know what happened last time and we definitely weren't at our best and we know what we need to do better for this weekend.
"I guess it's a bit of fire now for the girls. It's a must-win game for us and we're looking forward to this weekend."
Retaining possession has been a key focus for Newcastle as they look to turn the tables on Victory, who have no shortage of attacking threats in the likes of long-serving Matilda Lisa De Vanna and rising talent Kyra Cooney-Cross.
"We were just turning it over too much," Davis said. "We need to be more composed and just believe that we can do it. We say it every week but we need to show it now and there will be no excuses at No.2 Sportsground. We love playing there."
Victory will no doubt be wary of the Jets after their last encounter. After trailing 3-0 at the break at Latrobe City Stadium, the Jets staged a stunning second-half comeback and closed the scoreline to 3-2 with 14 minutes remaining before Melina Ayres completed a match double to secure the points.
"I think it could go either way," Davis said.
"They could either think that they had it on us and be comfortable or they could think that we can come back and we are a team that fights.
"Let's hope it's the second one because we are. We showed that against them last time we played them, but we just have to be better this weekend."
Newcastle were comfortable 4-1 winners over Western Sydney in their only other appearance at No.2 Sportsground on January 23.
Tomorrow's match will be the first of back-to-back games at their preferred home venue with the Jets hosting Adelaide on February 26. They play Perth and City away before taking on Canberra in Newcastle.
The Jets round out the season proper in Brisbane on March 28.
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