Their season may only be one week old but the Newcastle Jets' depth is already set to be tested due to injuries and suspension when they host A-League Women's newcomers Wellington at McDonald Jones Stadium this Friday.
Jets coach Ash Wilson seemed almost spoiled for choice, particularly in the front third, when choosing her team for a season-opener against Sydney on Saturday.
Long-serving left-back and co-captain Gema Simon was the only player sidelined for the 3-1 loss at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium. She has been managing a calf complaint through pre-season.
After the two-goal loss to the Sky Blues, Jets coach Ash Wilson said Simon, an 11-times capped Matilda, is likely to be out for "a couple of weeks" yet.
Midfielder Bethany Gordon looks set to join her in the casualty ward after she was forced from the field in the 33rd minute with a knee injury. Wilson said they expected to know more next week after Gordon has scans.
Also out in round two will be suspended defender Tiana Jaber, who was given her marching orders in the 77th minute on Saturday after being issued two yellow cards for separate challenges.
"Obviously, there's going to have to be some reshuffling next week, but we're confident we've got the depth and the ability to be able to counter some of those costly situations that have led to making some forced changes," Wilson said.
Interchangeability was key for Wilson when assembling her 18-player roster.
"There are lots of versatile players out there that can play in a lot of different lines on the pitch," she said.
"The messages have been pretty clear in how we want to play and I have confidence if there needs to be some kind of movement and shifts last minute that people have the knowledge to be able to do jobs in positions. "
Experienced defender Cassidy Davis played most of last campaign in midfield but reverted to a centre-back pairing with Hannah Brewer on Saturday.
Jaber was at right-back and 18-year-old Jets Academy product Kirsty Fenton earned her national league debut at left-back and did not look out of place.
"I was very pleased for Kirsty to get such a solid performance in," Wilson said.
"She's worked really hard, particularly this year, to get herself into a position where she is eligible for firstly a contract. Then to get herself into a starting line-up and then to do really well against someone like Cortnee Vine was really pleasing, and hopefully she takes a lot of confidence from that moving forward."
Taren King, who played in all 12 of Newcastle's matches at centre-back last year, was unavailable on Saturday but comes back into calculations against Phoenix.
Norwegian forward Marie Dolvik Markussen has been managing heel issues since arriving in Australia and came off the bench in the 66th minute but Jets fans could see more of the 24-year-old against Wellington, who drew 0-0 with Western Sydney in round one, if she pulls up fine this week.
Newcastle's scorer Lauren Allan and Sophie Harding, who nodded on for the goal assist, should also give Wilson something to think about after strong performances off the bench.
