There will be nothing conservative about Central Coast’s approach when the Mariners take on the Pohang Steelers in the Asian Champions League at Gosford on Wednesday night.
Coach Lawrie McKinna does not want to ease into the club’s first Asian competition, insisting his team will be ‘chasing a win’ at Bluetongue Stadium.
“This is a game we want to win and we’ll be going out trying to win,” McKinna said.
“A lot of teams will probably play for a draw away from home but we’re expecting that, it’s up to us to try and find a way around it.”
McKinna said the hardest part about preparing for Asian competition was not knowing much about the opposition.
The Mariners coach has seen a little of the Steelers in action on the internet and is expecting the Koreans to play with three defenders.
McKinna is likely to play an attacking side with two strikers backed up by an attacking midfield.
New signings Nick Rizzo, Adam Kwasnik and Shane Huke are all likely to be in the squad.
Rizzo and Kwasnik give the Mariners a real attacking thrust, while McKinna hopes Huke can fill the hole left by former star player Mile Jedinak, who left for Turkey midway through the season.
“The players did really well during our short trip to China last week and training has been good,” McKinna said.
“We’ll be ready to go on Wednesday night.”
Midfielder Adrian Caceres is the only member of the Mariners squad with Champions League experience. He played in the competition during his two years with Melbourne.
