A-League soccer: Jets out for revenge against A-League benchmark

The defending champions have a squad glistening with big-money stars and thumped the Jets 4-2 on their own turf a week ago.

It was the first time this campaign in which the Jets had been made to look almost second rate.

Regan is equally bullish that at their "best" the Jets have the arsenal to shoot down any team in the league, including City.

Fuelled by a confidence-boosting 2-1 triumph over a rejuvenated Melbourne Victory, the Jets will be out for revenge against City at AAMI Park on Friday night.

"Melbourne City are the benchmark," said Regan, who started his first match against Victory after joining the Jets in the January transfer window. "Last year they were leaps and bounds ahead of the rest. On paper, they have the personnel to do very well again.

"Against us, they played very well and we didn't play well.

"They are the best but our best can more than compete with them.

"That is what we have to do if we want to get maximum points in Melbourne on Friday night. That is what we are striving for."

READ MORE: JETS IN TALKS WITH US CONSORTIUM

The Jets had less than 72 hours to prepare for the rescheduled clash against City at McDonald Jones Stadium, which was their third match in nine days. They were bossed physically and Socceroos Matt Leckie and Jamie Maclaren made the most of tired legs and minds.

The circumstances will be reversed on Friday night. City will be lining up for their third game in a week.

"I am looking forward to the body feeling good going into a game and I know the other boys are too," Regan said. "We are not scared of them.

"One thing the boss has drilled into us is that we will continue to try and play our football. That is our identity.

"That is the way the coach wants to move the club forward and we all believe in it."

Jets captain Matt Jurman, who limped off with an ankle injury after 28 minutes in the loss to City, is back on the training pitch and a chance to play on Friday.

"Matt Jurman is pushing to return for this game," Regan said. "That keeps me on my toes. He is the captain, our leader, a former national team player."

Regan, 33, had played two cameos off the bench prior to the Victory game.

"I have been away [in Malaysia] for a long time and in the back of your mind you wonder if it is going to be a big jump," said Regan who played 96 A-League games for the Jets and Adelaide before a three-year stint in Malaysia. "At the same time, we train with a great deal of intensity and that put me in good stead.

"I would have liked to get through a few more minutes, but we were leading and the last thing I wanted to do was cramp or cost the team a goal. The boss decided that was enough. and it proved a good decision because we maintained the 2-1 lead."

Regan said they would take a lot of confidence from the win over Victory at AAMI Park, especially the second half performance.

"Victory were the better team in the first half, there is no denying that," the central defender said. "They had possession but they didn't create a lot of chances. We were against the ropes but we weathered the storm and that allowed us to still be in the game when our moment arrived. And we knew that it would."

Greek winger Savvas Siatravanis echoed Regan's appraisal of the Victory win and was primed for a rematch with City.

"It was good for our confidence. We needed the win, we needed three points," he said. "The game was tough, especially in the first half. The second half we were much better.

"We have to keep improving every day. It is good that we play City again. We want to play this game, we want to take revenge. We are well prepared and I think this game will be different from the first game we played."

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