The 4-0 demolition of Brisbane last round put the spotlight on the Jets’ much-improved attack.

 But Jones, the minister for defence when assistant coach for the Jets’ 2008 championship success, is focused on the other end of the pitch.

“We are not aiming for big scores, we are aiming for clean sheets,” Jones said. “Wanderers will defend better, they will get more players behind the ball. It will be harder to break down, but I still think we have enough speed when they are set in a 4-4-2 to get in beyond them. The most important thing is to keep a clean sheet which gives us a chance to win games. If we don’t concede, then we don’t lose.”

Jason Hoffman has recovered from a calf strain, but Jones is likely to stick solid with the back four that shut out Brisbane.

“The boys that started did a good job and probably deserve to keep their spot,” Jones said. 

Wanderers are coming off a 2-1 win over Adelaide and welcome back Spanish defender Aritz Borda from suspension. He is one of 10 new faces in a squad, which made it to the grand final last season. 

“They are a good football side and have the capabilities to be the best in the league.” Jones said. “I think they evolved last year. They became more of a ball-playing side. They were obviously defensively sound in the early years. I think the Spanish influence has helped and Mitch (Nichols) is very dangerous. The Japanese player, Jumpei Kusukami, has done well and is very tidy. But we back ourselves to be able to defend that.”

Home-grown utility Nick Cowburn, who made the switch from left back to right to cover for Hoffman, said the Jets had taken confidence from opening two rounds.

“We know it will be a tough match down there, but we are fully up for it,” he said. “They have threats in their team going forward, but I back us 100 per cent of the time, if we are defensively sound, we will not concede.”

Cowburn’s confidence is typical of a new mentality.

“It all started in pre-season,” he said. “We were playing good football and the change in coaching staff did not change our mentality. Jonesy has come in and told us what he wants. It is not just to show up and be competitive, we want to beat teams every week.”

Although the back four is unchanged, there could be a slight tweak in the front third, with Devante Clut pushing hard for a starting spot.

“Devante has been excellent and was unlucky not to start last week,” Jones said. “He came on and scored a goal. We have some selection dilemmas which is a good spot to be in.”