Maitland FC will be boosted by the return of Ryan Clarke from travel and defender Grant Brown from suspension for their crucial clash against Charlestown City Blues on Sunday.
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"They are two very good senior players coming back to the group. It's good selection headaches," Maitland coach Mick Bolch said this week.
The Magpies will be close to full strength with Alex Read overcoming injury concerns and he will be available to start if required.
"Charlestown will be tough, any team with Scott Smith up front is always dangerous and they will be stinging after being beat by Adamstown last weekend," Bolch said.
"I think it will be a real tough game come Sunday."
"We'll probably decide on our final line-up after a light session on Saturday morning, see how a few of the boys pull up.
"Pratty (Sean Pratt) had laser eye surgery on Monday and we'll give him to the end of the week to see if he is OK. Otherwise everyone is available."
The Magpies got their first point for the season courtesy of a 1-all draw with Broadmeadow Magic on Saturday night. They have a 2-1 loss to Weston and two washed-out games in an interrupted start because of rain.
"I was happy with the overall performance of the boys. We more than held our own. There was a 20 minute period in the second half where we hit the wall with our fitness, which was going to happen," Bolch said.
"They are a good side, they are going to be top two or three at the end of the year, so it was a good result, especially the way the boys showed real grit at the end.
"When they scored to make it 1-all with about 20 to go, they could have easily run over the top of us towards the end of the game.
"I honestly think we finished stronger in the last 20 minutes."
Charlestown coach David Tanchevski said that he was confident they would improve on the mistakes made against the Rosebuds and admitted they needed to.
"You know what to expect from Maitland. They're hardworking, they're physical and they're pretty strong all over the park," Tanchevski said in an interview for the NPL round six preview
"I think Maitland are just flying under the radar...they'll be straight back up into the top four once they get a few games under their belt.
"We know you've got to be on your game when you play Maitland because they can hurt you pretty badly otherwise. We're expecting another tough game."
