CARL Robinson has no doubts that Jets talisman Dimi Petratos can recapture the form that earned the attacking midfielder a trip to the World Cup.
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Petratos produced a man-of-the-match performance, scoring a stunning brace and setting up another, to help steer the Jets to a confidence-boosting 4-3 triumph over the Mariners on Sunday.
Both goals were fiercely struck and in stark contrast to the two sitters he missed the previous week.
The 27-year-old had been guilty of almost trying too hard to spark the Jets.
The effort was there, but the sublime touch, precision from set pieces and threat from long range had deserted him.
"I spoke to Dimi before the game and said he was working hard, he was being a good team player but he wasn't scoring and he wasn't creating goals," Robinson said. "That's what you're in the team to do. If I'm going to play this way and you're a number 10 or a second forward behind a number nine, then I need you to be proactive rather than safe.
"To be fair he took it on board."
Petratos has now scored five goals and set up another five for the campaign.
He netted 10 goals and provided 11 assists to help propel the Jets to the 2017-18 grand final. He was a finalist for the Johnny Warren Medal and was rewarded with a place in the Socceroos squad for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
"I think I can get Dimi to another level," Robinson said. "He needs to believe in himself, because he's certainly got a coach that believes in him and wants to push him.
"He needs to get back to where he was. It will take hard work but he is willing to put the work in. It was a good start. He can do it without a doubt."
While Roy O'Donovan didn't hit the target in his return match, the Irishman was a constant danger and pulled the defence out of shape.
Abdiel Arroyo also played with renewed confidence and was involved in the corner that led to an own-goal from Mariners defender Kim Eun-Sun which restored a two-goal buffer and swung momentum the Jets' way.
Robinson worked on the trio's combinations at training on Tuesday and is relying on them to lift again against a "tough" Wanderers outfit.
"They are a good team," Robinson said. "They have obviously had a change in manager as well. They have some good players in certain areas.
"There is not that much between many of the teams in this league than obviously the key difference makers. When you say difference makers, you are talking about goal-scorers or number tens, creative players. If we can keep Dimi Petratos and Roy and Arroyo at that level of form, we can beat anyone on our day."
Robinson hopes to add Wes Hoolahan to the attacking mix but is wary of risking the former Norwich legend unless he is 100 per cent.
Hoolahan has been back in training three weeks and is awaiting a final clearance from the doctor to return from ankle syndesmosis he suffered in the FFA Cup in September.
"Wes looks really sharp at training but he has to be comfortable and he has to get the clearance from the doctor," Robinson said. "Wes is getting a little bit older but his body is in very good shape and he is desperate to play. I want players who want to play.
"We will monitor it day by day. I want to see Wes Hoolahan on the field. But I have to be careful that if I put Wes on the field and he misses the next four to six weeks, then I'm not doing my job correctly."
