Jesic, who has been in good form for Newcastle and the Olyroos in the pre-season has sucuumb to an ankle injury while Brockie is battling a calf injury and if selected is expected to only take part as a substitute.

"It is disappointing for Marko but he has put his hand up and said he is not 100 per cent," interim Jets coach Craig Deans said. "It is disappointing for him but it gives someone else a chance.

"Ali (Abbas) can slot straight in as a number 10, he is comfortable there, he has a bit of an x-factor and I think he will do a fine job there."

Meanwhile goalkeeper Ben Kennedy has edged out Matthew Nash to start in goals for the match against Heart.

"It has been a really tough decision, more for our goalkeeping coach Clint Gosling than myself," Deans said. "BK (Kennedy) has been around at the Jets for a long time and showing him some faith is the right thing to do.

"I have no doubt he will repay the faith by putting in a solid performance on Saturday."

Deans, who was thrust into the caretaker coach role on Tuesday after the club stunned the football world by sacking coach Branko Culina, told the media on Thursday that the players will not let the off-field dramas pull their focus away from Saturday's season-opening clash.

"They are all excited for the game regardless of the situation we are in now, the most important thing is the game on Saturday and the players' attitude at training yesterday was superb," he said.

"They worked hard, they were enthusiastic, they put in the effort and I was really pleased with the session yesterday. Come Saturday there will be one focus and that is to win the game."

Deans added that he hoped that the Jets fans would also put the off-field drama aside and come out and support the team.

"We know within the staff and within the squad what we are capable of. We know we have the ability to achieve a win on Saturday and the weeks beyond," he said.

"We are hoping that everyone will come along to the game and get behind us."

Meanwhile the club has annoucned that the Nathan Tinkler owned Hunter Ports will be the major shirt sponsor for the club.

The two-year sponsorship deal will cover the front shirts for the Jets A-League and Youth League jerseys as well as Knights' NRL and NYC teams, will also involve a substantial investment in community and youth programmes and events.

"It is an exciting time for Hunter Ports to join forces with other national and international brands to ensure Newcastle is a better place for us to live and most importantly bring up our families who can now enjoy international quality sport all year round," Tinkler said.

"I am particularly enthusiastic about our community programmes that will create elite sporting and career pathways and our community engagement that will ensure both the Jets and the Knights are valuable members and contributors to the Hunter community."