To see today's training session...

The Jets last won in round four when they defeated high flying Gold Coast 1-0 at Energy Australia Stadium.

Since then it's been an erratic season which has seen them plummet to second bottom of the league with nine points, just above bottom placed North Queensland Fury - though Newcastle have played one game less than the North Queenslanders.

"The message this week is all about getting back on the winning track. The fact that it's a derby is beside the point. .. We need goals," Culina told au.fourfourtwo.com.

"We're now into the 11th round and we've had a bit of time to get over the honeymoon period and it's now back to the grind of trying to get some decent results.

"We're happy with some parts [of our game] but not with the results. After a good start it's been a bit disappointing."

With nine goals from ten games, it's clear where the problem lies at the Jets. The side has scored fewer than any team in the competition and Culina hopes new import, striker Michael Bridges, can fire up in the red hot atmosphere of an F3 encounter.

In the first A-League pre-season, Mariner Nick Mrdja famously broke the leg of the then Jets defender Andrew Durante. Since then there's been a seething rivalry between the two sides separated by an hour's drive along the F3.

But Culina was less sure about the derby's reputation for blood and thunder in 2009 after a quieter clash in round two at Bluetongue which ended in a 1-1 draw .

"Last time we played them, there wasn't a great deal of aggression from the two sides. Maybe that's been the case in the past," he said. "But there's no doubt they're a top side."

The Jets did their recovery on Monday after a 3-1 home loss to Melbourne Victory on Sunday. The players had a day off on Tuesday but they began their preparations in earnest for Friday night's F3 with an intensive workout in the heat of the sun this morning.

Culina said key defensive leader Ljubo Milicevic is likely to be again missing due to a heel injury. And with keeper Ben Kennedy continuing his steep A-League learning curve, the Jets will no doubt be under the pump defensively against the combined threats of Matt Simon, Nicky Travis, Dylan Macallister and All-White star Mike McGlinchey.

Culina added:  "In the last four weeks we've had the opportunity to win every game but for various reasons we haven't and that's disappointing. I'd be more disappointed if we weren't playing good football.

"But we've got to score more and concede less, it's as simple as that."

To see today's training session...