NIKOLAI Topor-Stanley admits he has thought about the potential impact of COVID-19 on his young family but the Jets defender has confidence in the measures taken by Football Federation Australia and the government to limit the risk to players.
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The Newcastle Jets will take on Brisbane Roar behind closed doors on the Gold Coast on Friday night in a revised A-League draw.
The A-League and National Rugby League are among a few major competitions in the world to continue despite the worsening pandemic.
"No-one has been through this situation before. It is difficult," Topor-Staney said. "It is ever changing. We are going by government guidelines also by the FFA and we are determined to get these games through.
"Player safety comes first. That is at the forefront of everyone's mind. No-one is going to be putting us in harms way intentionally."
Topor-Stanley said the club had introduced procedures around hygiene.
While it was a matter of "being sensible" he has considered the potential implications for his wife and young children.
"I won't lie and say it is something I haven't thought about," he said. "It is a world-wide pandemic for a reason. The reality is that it is being talked about everywhere.
"Risks can be mitigated if everyone does the right thing."
It was business as usual when the Jets resumed training on Wednesday. The Brisbane game was only confirmed late Wednesday afternoon, leaving one session to prepare.
"It has altered a few things here and there but it was still a normal training day," Topor-Stanley said. "Normally we prepare our way of playing and that changes slightly. We work on set pieces and watch video ... those type of things the day before the game."
The Jets are fresh from a 3-0 shut out against Adelaide and will head north undefeated in six games.
"That is the positive we can focus on," Topor-Stanley said. "We are coming off a good win. The good thing was that we didn't concede when we were under pressure. Adelaide came out and threw a fair bit at us. In previous games we have conceded goals when we have been under pressure. We limited them to half chances or there was someone there to put pressure on the shot. Then we took our opportunities when we got them."
Remaining six games of the A-League will be condensed into a four week period. The Jets will back up on Monday night against Melbourne City behind closed doors at McDonald Jones Stadium.
"There will be a bit of congestion to get these games out of the way," Topor-Stanley said. "I have done it with Wanderers in the Asian Champions League, with international travel mind you. It is not easy, but it is what it is."
A win over the Roar, who have also won their past two games to climb to four spot on 32 points, could move the Jets to within three points of the top six.
"Making the six is possible so we have to believe that we can do it," Topor-Stanley said. "We have to keep pushing each other to climb up that table and see what comes of it."
