Ernie has named an 18-man squad to take on Sydney FC this weekend, with a number of big ins.

Ronny Vargas has served his one-game suspension and returns to the fold, while Joey Champness is set to see Hyundai A-League action for the first time this season.

Also promoted to the squad and in the mix is Ivan Vujica, who played in last weekend’s NYL clash with Sydney.

FIVE THINGS: The talking points ahead of Saturday

He could come in for the suspended Daniel Georgievski, who picked up his fifth yellow card of the season in the loss to Victory last weekend.

Another player looking like he could come back into the starting XI is goalkeeper, Glen Moss.

The veteran shot-stopper has trained strongly throughout the week, and is set to overcome the thigh injury which has kept him sidelined these past weeks.

Ben Kantarovski is the only unavailable player this weekend, with that groin injury keeping him sidelined for what’s expected to be another three weeks.



Newcastle Jets FC Squad: 1.Glen MOSS (gk), 3.Jason HOFFMAN, 4.Nigel BOOGAARD (c), 6.Steven UGARKOVIC, 7.Dimi PETRATOS, 8.Jair, 9.Roy O¹DONOVAN, 10.Ronald VARGAS, 13.Ivan VUJICA, 14.Kaine SHEPPARD, 16.Nick COWBURN, 18.Johnny KOUTROUMBIS, 20.Lewis ITALIANO (gk), 22.Lachlan JACKSON, 23.Matthew RIDENTON, 24.Joe CHAMPNESS, 32.Angus THURGATE, 44.Nikolai TOPOR-STANLEY

**two to be omitted**

Ins: 10.Ronald VARGAS (return from suspension), 13.Ivan VUJICA (promoted), 24.Joe CHAMPNESS (return from injury)

Outs: 17.Daniel GEORGIEVSKI (suspended)

Unavailable: 5.Ben KANTAROVSKI (groin ­– 3 weeks)