To see the Jets in training on Tuesday...

"They've got a few boys who I've got respect for but in general tactically they are inept. That comes from their coaching," Milicevic told au.fourfourtwo.com ahead of the two sides' blockbuster in Melbourne on December 27.

But Milicevic believes the coaching at Victory has let the side down this season resulting in a porous defensive record.

"It's not worked on at training so they don't do it in the games," he said. "They're very open and easy to breakdown and I think their goals against, their defensive record, shows that.

"Speaking to Musky the other week - we've kissed and made up - and even he admits that they are tactically naïve."

Victory will be without a number of key players including in-form Archie Thompson as well as a suspended Grant Brebner for the Jets game.

Milicevic added: "They've been lucky over the years because they've been so good in an attacking sense. But anyone will tell you defences win championships. Defensively as a unit, they're pretty poor."

Newcastle for their part are set to be strengthened with the return of a core of the team in Milicevic, Jobe Wheelhouse, Kasey Wehrman, Ben Kennedy and Ruben Zadkovich.

It should be more like the team that has many tipping them for a finals berth rather than the depleted version that succumbed to Phoenix 4-0 last weekend.

"They'll [Victory] score three but they're still drawing games. So they'll be worried because I've no doubt we'll score against them," added the Jets skipper.

"When you've got guys like Kasey in your side and the others coming back they can intimidate any opposition. I don't think we've lost the midfield when all of those three have been playing."

Milicevic, capped six times by the Socceroos and a former European Champions League player with Swiss club FC Thun, returned to his hometown club Victory for season three of the A-League.

However, Muscat and Milicevic - two strong characters - clashed. The club backed Muscat and Milicevic left the then-reigning champions.

The former Perth Glory star - and one-time captain of both the national U/20 and U/23s - has since returned stronger than ever at Newcastle Jets over the last two seasons. And he says the feud between him and the Victory legend is over.

The two sides meet in a Christmas cracker in Melbourne on December 27 and Milicevic believes Victory's backline is a clear weakness.

This season Victory have scored 29 times in 20 games but have the worst goals conceded of any team in the six with 26.

In comparison, the Milicevic-led Jets defence along with fellow central stopper Nikolai Topor-Stanley have conceded just 16 in 19 games - equal best in the A-League.

And when you consider four of those goals were conceded last week when a depleted Jets lost 4-0 in New Zealand, it speaks volumes for the Jets' personnel.

The Jets have recovered from an ordinary start to the season to now sit sixth on 25 points - one point less than fifth placed Victory (who've played one extra game). It all points to a quality game full of goals and just a bit of bite.

Milicevic added: "I don't worry about any team we play. I think we're better than all of them. If you look at our team position by position we've got amazing depth.

"We've turned our season around and we're proving that in the last two months - other than the game against Wellington, which I discard.

"In total, if you also include Michael Bridges, Ben Kantarovski, Jeremy Brockie, we were missing seven or eight regulars against Phoenix.

"4-0 last week was an aberration but we've moved on.

"No-one's come close to outplaying us. Not Brisbane, not Adelaide and not Gold Coast or Central Coast.

"I don't think it will be any different against Victory."

To see the Jets in training on Tuesday...