The Jets will lock horns with City on Friday, with the winner advancing to the A-League Grand Final on May 5.

Newcastle CEO Lawrie McKinna confirmed to FourFourTwo that more than 20,000 people are expected to turn up to McDonald Jones Stadium for the elimination final.

The Jets largest home crowd of the 2017/2018 season to date came in round 22 when 18,156 turned up to see the club defeat Sydney FC 2-1.

Newcastle’s biggest home crowd in A-League history came during the 2006/2007 finals campaign against the Sky Blues with an attendance of 24,338.

“We sold close to 5,000 tickets on Tuesday,” McKinna said.

McDonald Jones Stadium has a capacity of 33,000. There is also an extra incentive for the Jets on Friday as a victory, and a Sydney FC loss on Saturday, would see the A-League Grand Final played in the Hunter.

Newcastle has seen its home crowds increase dramatically compared to last season, when the club finished with the wooden spoon. This campaign the Jets have averaged 11,016 fans, the fourth highest in the A-League, compared with 2016/2018 when they averaged 8,645.

McKinna said the rising attendances have played a key role in the team’s on-field success this season.

“We have done well, we’ve had a 20% increase on the season before,” he said.

“Once the three supporter groups got together for the Wanderers game the atmosphere changed around the ground and helped the team on the park.

"The crowd against Sydney FC got the team over the line and they will a big part on Friday.”