The Jets have enjoyed a brilliant season and sit second on the A-League ladder, but enter the last round on the back of a string of momentum-sapping defeats.

Newcastle have shipped 10 goals in the past three matches, scoring just two.

The club's campaign started in fantastic fashion last year with a 5-1 mauling against their near neighbours in round one.

 

Duncan says another derby win is exactly what is needed to get them going before the finals kick off.

“We have had two good results against them this year and will be looking to add a third,” the goalkeeper said.

“For us to go out and put the performance on we did really set us up well for the season. We ran away with it from there. It’s about getting that belief back. The Mariners won’t want to finish on the bottom of the table.

"They will be up for it like they always are. They probably have players playing for their future at the club. The new coach has tweaked the way they play. We have looked at that and ways to break them down and exploit them.

"We just need to focus on what we do well, and that is scoring goals. It makes it easier on the whole team when we are scoring goals. We went through a patch in the middle of the year where we were scoring goals from everywhere. That is what we have to get back to.”

Duncan feels the Jets need to adapt and evolve as the semi-finals begin, and their opponents stifle their free-flowing attack.

Newcastle has been hit by several injuries and the departure of forward Andrew Nabbout to Japan.

"When we have dominated games in terms of possession and passes is when we have struggled to score goals,” he said.

"We are so efficient on the counter attack and quick going forward, opposition teams have looked to stop that aspect. It is about learning how to adapt to different situations and breaking down teams when they sit behind the ball. 

"For us it is about playing forward, facing forward, doing the things we are good at – getting in the box and scoring goals.”