With one day to prepare, the man who replaced Brisbane Roar's longest-serving coach almost secured a point against the reigning Premiers. With less than a week he got one against the reigning runners-up.

New-coach-bounces aside, it was a dynamic, fast-flowing Brisbane side that took Sydney FC by surprise in Kogorah, and while it was a far more eclectic performance in the Hunter, it was similarly corageous.

Davies instilled a high-press that became a front four at times, with first-touch passing that made Matty McKay suddenly appear a compotent and rejuvenated box-to-box midfielder.

He goes for it in every sense of the word - after conceding the first goal at McDonald Jones Stadium, he replaced a midfielder with a striker. After conceding the second, another striker for a defender. The 40-year-old insists that his philosophy is "very similar to John Aloisi's", but in truth, Brisbane look a new side.

Or at least one that's been scared into life.

"It's been pretty hectic," Davies said. "Everyone was very shocked, it was really sad to lose somebody who's given the football club so much, it really needs to be recognised.

"The playing group was low but there was a reaction from the boys against Sydney. As professionals we have to move forward.

"I spoke to them before Sydney and everybody has to contribute, the football department, everybody, the supporters, the players; everybody needs to stick together now. We'll be going down tomorrow night and doing the upmost to win."

It was a sentiment echoed by his closest representative on the pitch, Eric Bautheac. A fiery, inconsistent winger who, after walking a tight line all match, eventually scored the equaliser in Brisbane's 2-2 draw with the Novocastrians.

"We never give up, we fight together and it's important - we needed a point," he said. "I hope it's just starting, but now we need to win next week.

"It's much better, we needed character and you can see we have it. We have a lot of games in January and we need to play well. Now we play Perth, but in our stadium, we need to win."

Character is the key word - Brisbane will require an overthrow of what had become a stilted mentality if they're able to regalvanise an ageing squad. As for the lingerers, should Davies fail, John Aloisi's brother, Ross, is waiting in the wings, expectedly keen to have a taste at a head coaching role. 

As someone for whom this opportunity is equally important, there was more than a hint of uncertainty in Davies' voice when asked whether Aloisi should manage the club.

"It's a very difficult situation with Ross, with his brother leaving," Davies said.

"But from my point of view his brilliant. Do I think he's a good coach? Of course. But whether he could coach the club, that's a question for him, not for me."