McKinna says he's not too worried about goalkeeper Danny Vukovic's health, ahead of Saturday's pre-season trial against Wellington Phoenix in Dubbo.
 
Vukovic visited a doctor as a precaution on arrival in the Central Western city, after picking up what has now been diagnosed as a sinus infection.
 
Prescribed antibiotics and a period of rest, Vukovic remains all but certain to play in the club's final competitive hitout before the start of the A-League season.

McKinna said: "He didn't feel great when he got off the bus, and it's got worse, so young Nathan Kenyon, the young goalkeeper from Dubbo who is in our academy is on the bench, and he probably won't sleep well tonight. He's at training tomorrow, so I'm sure deep down he'll be hoping Danny turns up.
 
"We don't want to risk anyone who has niggles or who isn't feeling right, but psychologically you want to win the game. It's the last major game before the A-League starts, and it would be great to have a wee win up here."
 
With regular deputy Andrew Redmayne on Australian Under 20's duty , Kenyon, and a couple of unlikely candidates are putting their hands up as backup.
 
"It's between Kwas (Adam Kwasnik) and Hutch (John Hutchinson). They're having goalkeeper auditions in case Vuka ends up in the sickbed. This is the last group, the final exam, so we'll see who wins, but six -year olds are a lot different to the Phoenix," joked captain Alex Wilkinson.
 
The squad endured a marathon six hour bus trip to Dubbo before immediately hitting the training pitch. Despite this, the squad remains in good spirits.
 
"We just used it to shake the cobwebs off. We'll train a lot more intensively tomorrow, and seeing how the boys go we might have a session at 5o'clock as well. That one is out of the way now, we'll turn up tomorrow, the boys will be well rested tonight, and we look forward to a good session tomorrow," said McKinna.
  
"It's important for us to have a decent game, and keep the confidence going, we're unbeaten, so hopefully we can continue that," Wilkinson said.
 
The Mariners clash with Wellington Phoenix this Saturday, 25 July at Apex Oval, Dubbo. General Admission tickets are $10 adults and $5 for Child/Concession. Kick-off is at 6pm.

Meanwhile, Central Coast Mariners have completed a Hyundai A-League first, with the Mariners Academy squad returning from a successful development tour to New Caledonia.
 
The Mariners, currently the only club in the country to boast such an academy, took advantage of the school holiday break in club football to take 16 players, to experience an overseas training environment.
 
Hosted by the New Caledonian Football Association, the tour was based in Noumea and included a trip to the Northern town of Kone, a four-hour bus ride, made worthwhile by the quality of opposition and magnificent facilities.

Under the coaching of Louis Chaperon and Steve Eagleton, both year 1 Mariners Academy Staff the boys from both the Central Coast and the Central Coast Mariners partner clubs Spirit FC and Northern Tigers were put through their paces in several training sessions and a series of un-official matches against National representative squads.

NYL Head Coach and Development Manager Tony Walmsley was also in attendance to benchmark the Academy, but also to conduct a series of clinics and talks with local players and coaches.

"This type of tour is great for a number of reasons. We learn more about kids and their character in a week on tour, than through a whole term at the Academy and if performance growth is one of the measures the final match performance was significant," said Walmsley.

"The players have been exposed to more training, higher levels of discipline and a higher calibre of athlete than is common to them at club level. This gives us an insight in to their character, and also helps us identify the one's who can cope with increased demands.

"On another level, we are developing closer ties with the NCFA. Earlier this year CCM hosted two New Caledonian trialists and through NCFA Technical Director, Didier Chamberon and his Youth Coach Nicholas Bach, we have been able to further develop our International relations.

"There is some outstanding young talent in New Caledonia and over time I am sure we will have enhanced opportunities to be able to identify and nurture players through this relationship," said Walmsley.