After a six-month rehabilitation from a broken leg, Socceroo prospect Heffernan made first his appearance of the Mariners’ pre-season trial match programme in late May against Spirit FC at Christie Park, but was withdrawn early after a heavy challenge on the leg.

Having been cleared of injury and trained strongly for the past month, Heffernan is now set to make a belated bid for first team action against the Jets at Budgewoi tomorrow.

Likely to join Heffernan in the Mariners starting side will be new signing David D’Apuzzo, who signed his first professional contract earlier in the week after impressing in several trial matches over the past two months.

Mariners will again rely on several triallists to make up the numbers, though John Hutchinson, Adam Kwasnik, Sasho Petrovski and Alex Wilkinson, each of whom lined up in February’s Hyundai A-League Grand Final against the Jets at the Sydney Football Stadium, are expected to start the match.

Qantas Socceroo Mile Jedinak, who looms as a likely starter for Australia against China at ANZ Stadium for Sunday’s FIFA World Cup qualifier, headlines a significant list of absentees that also includes Beijing Olympic Games hopefuls Nigel Boogaard and Matt Simon, injured foursome Nik Mrdja, Paul O’Grady, Matthew Osman and Greg Owens and suspended goalkeeper Danny Vukovic.

"The boys are looking forward to it, we know it’s just a friendly game and we’ve got about nine boys missing, as I’m sure Newcastle have, but it’s a derby game, there’ll be a good crowd turnout and hopefully they’ll see a few goals and some good football and more goals come from us than the Jets," said Mariners Football Manager Lawrie McKinna.

"We’re hoping to start Dean Heffernan, he’s been out for six months with his broken leg and David D’Apuzzo will also get a run.

"It’s a friendly game and there’ll be nothing stupid going on as it’s pre-season, but it’s a competitive game, Newcastle will treat it like that as we are and hopefully we win and the boys get 90 minutes of fitness out of it."

Mariners and Jets have played each other more times than any other two Hyundai A-League clubs, with Saturday’s match marking the 17th occasion the two east coast rivals have met in all fixtures.

The Jets currently have the better record in arguably the A-League’s fiercest rivalry – the Novocastrians having defeated Mariners on six occasions and having suffered five losses, two of which were after extra time.

The Jets’ most famous triumph over Mariners was their 2008 Hyundai A-League Grand Final success at the Sydney Football Stadium four months ago.

"The place is buzzing up at Budgewoi, hopefully it’s a nice day and we get a good crowd, as the game deserves," said McKinna.

"All the staff at the Budgewoi Soccer Club deserve a great rap, they’ve made us feel very welcome and by putting this game on and going to so much trouble, they’re going out of their way to make it a big night."

Central Coast Mariners Squad

5. Bradley Porter, 6. David D’Apuzzo, 7. John Hutchinson, 8. Dean Heffernan, 11. Damien Brown, 15. Andrew Clark, 18. Alex Wilkinson, 19. Adam Kwasnik, 21. Ahmad Elrich, 22. Sasho Petrovski, 27. Dylan Macallister, 30. Andrew Redmayne (gk), Nathan Moseley, Brady Smith, Adam Woodbine

The Mariners pre-season trial match program continues at Budgewoi’s Frank Millington Field against the Newcastle Jets tomorrow, Saturday, 21 June. Kick off is at 2.45pm. Tickets are on sale now from the Budgewoi Soccer Club - $5 for families or $10 for families consisting of two adults and two children.