With six regulars, headed by captain Nigel Boogaard and linchpins Ronny Vargas and Dimi Petratos rested ahead of the Asian Champion League showdown with Kashima Antlers in Japan on Tuesday, it was the fringe players who stood tall.

 Jair, recalled to the starting side for the first time in five games, put the home side ahead with a crushing header in the 22nd minute.

His goal was cancelled out by Jamie Maclaren 10 minutes into the second half.

But just as the Jets looked to be headed for another draw Champness struck.

Playing his second game back from a four-month lay-off, the winger had only been on the field eight minutes when he finished off a brilliant counter attack. Jair dispossessed Riley McGree inside the Jets' territory and released Roy O'Donovan, who also came off the bench. The Irishman turned past two defenders and picked out Champness to slot home.

Two minutes later O'Donovan sealed the win, collecting a Champness pass and angling it across goal.

The win was the seventh-placed Jets' first against a team higher on the table and moved them to 22 points, six behind Wellington and City with eight games to go.

"Considering the players who were out … it was a really good performance," a delighted Ernie Merrick said. "The ability of the boys to change the style of play was first class. We only had once sessions to prepare. We had to be very compact, defend our half and play a counter attacking game. It is pretty boring but it worked."

Jair, who was the import squeezed out of the squad for Asia, produced his best performance in Jets colours.

"Jair has been struggling with hip flexor and quad niggles but he wanted to play 90 minutes tonight," Merrick said. "He showed he can tackle as well as get forward. His goal was terrific and he had an excellent shot which Eugene Galekovic saved really well. Especially after losing Jason Hoffman, it's great for Jair to come good and young Joey." 

Nikolai Topor-Stanley, who took over the captaincy, Johnny Koutroumbis, Kaine Sheppard and midfielder Steve Ugarkovic were the only players from the AC qualifier on Tuesday to back up against City.

Angus Thurgate was promoted for his first start in a new look front four, minus Petratos and Vargas for the first time this campaign.

City had most of the ball in the first half, but did little with it.

Maclaren, who joined City from Scottish  club Hibernian two weeks ago, was at the centre of two early chances for the visitors.

Keeper Lewis Italiano nicked the ball off the foot of the striker as he was about to tuck away a Richie De Laet cross in the 13^th minute. A minute later was released in behind the defence but pulled a shot past the left post.

The rest of the first half was all Newcastle.

Jair went close with a firmly struck volley in the 21^st minute after City failed to clear a cross.

The Brazilian wouldn't be denied a minute later.

Koutroumbis burst down the right and delivered a cross to the back post. Jair folded off the shoulder of his defender and powered a header past Eugene Galekovic.

Matthew Ridenton had a deflected shot well saved by Galekovic and Jair blazed high from a tight angle.

City coach Warren Joyce introduced Riley McGree for defender Harrison Delbridge in the 51^st minute and five minutes later the visitors were back on level terms.

Luke Brattan sent a low cross through a crowded penalty box for Maclaren to turn inside the left post.

Merrick made a double sub just past the hour, introducing O'Donovan and Jake Adelson, who made his first A-league appearance since December 2015 after a series of knee injuries.