Okon knows the Jets-Mariners derby well after playing 17 games for Newcastle back in the 2006/2007 season.

"It means a lot," he said.

"The last couple of years its probably hasnt been the derbies it was previously and hopefully Sunday's is a taste of what's to come. I think the initiative of the club membership on other side of the fence gets you into the derby is massive.

"Hopefully we can get that feeling back again, that atmosphere. I think it's important the two teams are located close to each other, so apart from the two Melbourne teams, it's probably the two closest teams in the competition.

"We're looking forward to the game. It's a derby so it has something that has little bit extra special and we hope to make sure we can perform for our travelling fans."

The Mariners will be the away side when they take on the Jets. Okon is hoping for a "sea of yellow" in support of his team in Newcastle.

"Hopefully we'll see that sea of yellow, everyone in their Mariners jerseys and the scarves around their necks," he said.

"Hopefully it's not too warm. It is incentive, it is added motivation to perform and reward those people who travel to Newcastle on a Sunday afternoon and support us. It's a game we want to win and a game that we're going to do everything to win.

"The derby's for players as well. The players go out there to fight. The players are aware of that and hopefully they rise to the occasion."

Both teams will be desperate for a victory with Newcastle sitting in eighth spot on the ladder and Central Coast in ninth. Both clubs have only had one win so far this season and have accrued five points, but Okon is wary of the Jets.

"It's still early, they have a new coach so it will take time," the 44-year old said.

"They're a good team, they have some really fast players in the attacking third. They have an experiened midfield - Wayne Brown and Poljak do a good job. They're a good team and at the moment if you're going to look at results, you're flirting with danger there.

"It's a derby, we expect a really fierce rival. That's what we want, we want it to be a tough game but we're also confident we can get the job done."

The Mariners are coming off a disappointing loss to Wellington Phoenix in Canberra.

"The focus has been just to get back on track," Okon said.

"One win doesn;t make you a champion team and one loss doesn't make you a crap team. We're aware of where we went wrong. We've had a good solid week of training."

Despite only winning of their first six games, Okon is adamant that Central Coast are playing some of the best football in the competition.

"I think some of the stats will show that," the former Socceroo said.

"The stats haven't backed up that towards getting wins, but it's certainly helped us to improve our style of play and we're creating chances off the back of that. We're going to continue that, we're going to continue with the football and we just need to make sure we can, as quickly as possible, translate that into victories."