After four seasons of relative squad stability, the Mariners are set for change in the next few weeks with several players expected to head for the Bluetongue Stadium exit.

McKinna will reveal the extent of his cull once the club has completed its Asian Champion League group fixtures against Tianjin Teda next week.

"This is the hard part (of management), when you're looking at people they're moving on. Some people have been here since the start," he tells au.fourfourtwo.com.

McKinna isn't prepared to reveal names just yet but is clear in his own mind, who he wants to stay and who is out.

"My mind's made up, yes," he said.

The Mariners will shortly leave for a spell of training and games in Queensland where several potential recruits will be given a chance to impress McKinna.

He said: "We've spoken to agents and there's maybe three or four boys from overseas who we will take a look at.

"We don't know yet but it might be that we have six or seven new faces for next season."

Experience and leadership skills will certainly be sought in some of the recruits. McKinna feels the Mariners have suffered for the loss of past performers who have done it at the highest level.

"No question that losing the likes of Tony Vidmar, John Aloisi and Tommy Pondeljak hurt us. Those players offer so much," he said.

One experienced player the Mariners have been linked with on more than occasion is David Carney but he doesn't appear to be on the hit list.

McKinna said: "Yes, we asked about him for the Champions League campaign but then he's moved on to Norwich on a loan, although I'm not sure how much he played. He still has a year left at Sheffield as well."