Top-four tests await misfiring Mariners
An undermanned and underfiring Central Coast are bracing for a demanding fortnight featuring games against each of the A-League's top four.
Melbourne Victory (third), Newcastle (second), Melbourne City (fourth) and Sydney FC (first) await in a mammoth first half of January, set to decide whether Paul Okon's improved side have a hope of finals action come April.
The Mariners have slipped to ninth since their strong start lifted them into the top four after nine rounds.
They are still only three points adrift of sixth, but a failure to score in four games has increased the pressure of Saturday night's tie with Victory in a hot and sticky Geelong.
Leave there without a goal and they will equal the club's five-game drought of 2006.
"It hasn't been a question of us not having opportunities to score, and probably that's been the most disappointing thing the past four games," said Okon.
"Early on in the season - eight from nine games - we were the team to score first.
"In the last four games the ball hasn't gone in. Only we can change that.
"We know we need to be more ruthless in front of goal."
That task has been made tougher with the absence of star playmaker Danny De Silva, who is away with the Olyroos for up to a month along with Trent Buhagiar and goalkeeper Tom Glover.
Victory are short on defensive personnel with Rhys Williams suspended, James Donachie injured and Thomas Deng also on Olyroos duty, but new recruit Dino Djulbic is likely to bolster the backline.
Okon described Kevin Muscat's resurgent side as being in "red-hot form" but drew confidence from October's 1-1 draw, when he felt the Mariners had the edge.
The rest of the squad are available, and Okon will make selections to cater for a tight three-day turnaround before travelling to the Jets on Tuesday.
"Because we've got two games in three days with travel and heat, we are looking at both games at the same time," he said.
"We will probably have to rotate things around and freshen the squad up. They're two massive games."
