Michael Bridges, 31,  Ljubo Milicevic, 29, and Kasey Wehrman, 32, will make the trip to Gippsland, but are unlikely to start.

Culina will fly straight to Melbourne on Thursday morning to link with the squad on his return from Europe, but he is set to ease his older players in.

"I have spoken to Branko and at this stage he wants to ease some of the older ones in," Jets assistant coach Mark Jones told the Newcastle Herald.

"Bridgey, Ljubo and Kasey might be used off the bench, depending on the situation."

Injured trio Tarek Elrich (groin), Jobe Wheelhouse (groin) and Ruben Zadkovich (ankle) were not considered for selection.

Former North Queensland Fury shot stopper Paul Henderson is expected to sign a short-term deal as an injury replacement for keeper Neil Young.

Jones, who has been in charge for the last 10 days, said there would be plenty of experimentation against the Heart.

"The result really doesn't matter. We have been working on a couple of different formations," he said.

"Branko wants to defend in more of a 4-4-2 and play a 4-2-3-1 in attack. This is our first hit-out versus their fourth or fifth."

He added: "It will be purely to see how we go, if we can play the formation and be disciplined in that."

Brazilian Alex Terra has been named in an extended Heart squad that includes Dean Heffernan and former Jets captain Matt Thompson.

Newcastle are yet to unveil a new captain, but Jones said the captain on Thursday would not necessarily be a reflection of who will have the job permanently.