BEAT, or at the very least draw with Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i tonight or our Asian Champions League dream is over.
"That's a bit dramatic, it's only match day two," I hear you say - "mathematically we'll still be in the hunt for a spot through to the knock-out stage." We will be, yes, but let's no kid ourselves too much.
Nagoya Grampus, as they proved with their opening day 3-1 victory away to Ulsan are rightful favourites to top the group. Additionally, one of their star players is called Magnum. Any team with a player called Magnum just has to be good.
Beijing Guoan, as they showed last Tuesday evening are more than just a side with two of the three Griffiths brothers. They're competent all over the pitch and look especially deadly on the right hand side when the elusive Wang Changqing runs rampant. They too are an excellent candidate to advance.
That leaves us with tonight's opponents, the Tigers of Ulsan, a side who qualified for this seasons AFC Champions League courtesy of their third placed finish in the 2008 K-League.
Ironically, this is the second side in the space of a week that we'll play having just lost a player to. Defender Antun Kovacic joined Ulsan from Newcastle last week after mutually agreeing his release with Jets management, however unlike Joel Griffiths, Kovacic is ineligible for the ACL and won't be playing against his old club this evening. Wouldn't we all have preferred it to have been the other way around?
Like most clubs in world football, Ulsan have Brazilian players in their squad, however only striker Luizinho has travelled to the Hunter. Luizinho's compatriot Almir was left in the Korea Republic along with many members of Ulsan's normal first 11.
Much like the Jets, Ulsan have just gone through a transition stage which has seen their best player, Park Dong-hyuk, move to Gamba Osaka. According to reports, they're not the same side they were when they made it as far as the semi-finals of this very competition two seasons ago.
Even so, if our foray into Asia has taught us anything thus far it's that players you don't really know are dangerous...damn dangerous. Gary van Egmond has obtained and analysed a DVD of Ulsan's first game against Nagoya, but the signs tend to indicate Ulsan are here for a point and will play more defensively than they would have at home against Nagoya.
Van Egmond, it can be assumed, will send his chargers out to attack from the off. With three points crucial to our cause, expect Donny de Groot, Sasho Petrovski and Fabio Vignaroli all to retain their starting spots. Whispers have it that youngster Marko Jesic also looks likely to start, which will add another dimension to our front third.
Another rumour coming out of EAS indicates that despite having to return to Adelaide for a wedding on the weekend, Angelo Costanzo's ACL experience will be called upon from the opening whistle tonight.
Having been hardened to the realisations of Asian football in during their trip to Beijing, Newcastle, with home town and ground advantage should be well primed for this one. The weatherman predicts a near perfect night in Newcastle, so if you're within range get to EAS for a history making night in Newcastle football.
Possible Lineups:
Newcastle Jets: A. Covic, T. Elrich, L. Milicevic, A. Costanzo, N. Topor-Stanley, B. Kantarovski, M. Thompson, M. Jesic, F. Vignaroli, D. de Groot, S. Petrovski
Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i: Luizinho, + 10
Kick off: 8pm AEDST. LIVE on Fox Sports 1, LIVE on 1233 ABC Newcastle
Prediction: Jets to rediscover that winning feeling. 3-1 Newcastle
