Vukovic returned just three clean sheets last season, but with the halfway stage of the current campaign approaching, the Mariners' custodian already has five to his name.
 
The 24-year-old said he didn't believe in himself to keep clean sheets last year, but this time around, he steps out on the part every week, believing he can remain a rock at the back.

"Personally, I think I'm doing very well this year," said Vukovic. "At the back end of last season was probably my worst form in the five years I've been playing at this club.

"My form is good this year and the defenders in front of me have been playing well, so it's a group thing. We're confident in every game that we can go out and keep a clean sheet, it's something that we didn't have at the back end of last season."

Newcastle were the first team to breach Central Coast's defensive resolve more than once in a single match this season.

Michael Bridges and Labinot Haliti providing a double blow in the opening 14 minutes, something the yellow and navy fell just short of recovering from.
 
"It was a bit disappointing the way we started the match, especially given the last two matches before that we started off really well, and it was the first 20 minutes where we lost the game," said Vukovic.
 
"We played well for the next 70 minutes of the game though, and hopefully we can take that good form into the next game against Adelaide."
 
Canberra Stadium will, for the second time this season, provide the backdrop for a Mariners' A-League fixture, and after Alex Wilkinson and Matt Simon helped the side to a 2-1 win over Perth Glory, Vukovic hopes Saturday's return to the nation's capital can provide a springboard to the club's title hopes.
 
"We're confident we can go all the way to the finals and hopefully win this year," said Vukovic.
 
"We enjoy going to Canberra, we've been going there for the last five years, be it pre-season, or like this year, where we had a good win over Perth, we haven't lost there.
 
"We have some good form there, we enjoy playing there, and hopefully on Saturday night we can get the win."
 
And while just over 5,000 fans braved a chilly September night to witness the first ever A-League match in the capital, Vukovic is keen to see a big crowd for the double header which sees the Mariners' Westfield W-League and A-League teams taking on Canberra United and Adelaide United respectively.
 
He added: "It would be nice if the Canberra faithful come out and support us, we're bringing the game to them, and it would be nice if they come out and see us."