New Western United coach John Aloisi has welcomed a “cut-throat” FFA Cup clash with Newcastle as the perfect first competitive match of his tenure.

United and the Jets, who finished 10th and 11th respectively last season, will face off at GMHBA Stadium on Saturday 13 November for a spot in the competition’s round of 32, a week out from the start of the A-League Men season.

“It’s a great way to lead into the season,” Aloisi said.

“I’m happy to be playing now, a week leading into the start of the season.

“It’s cut-throat and it means a lot and you’ll feel it, the players will feel it as soon as the game starts, that it’s not a friendly game. 

“Even though you try and take the friendlies or the internals as seriously as possible, you’re trying different things, you make different changes whereas now it’s official. 

“It’s in Geelong, so our first game (of the season) against Melbourne Victory is in Geelong as well. 

“And, it’s a good opportunity to see what Newcastle are doing because obviously they’ve got a lot of new players, new coach, new way of playing and so we’ll be able to get to see them, first-hand, what they’re like.”

Newcastle has enjoyed an off-season revamp, with new coach Arthur Papas, a familiar face to Aloisi, overhauling his squad.

“I know the type of football he likes to play, I know the players that he likes,” he said.

“He plays a fast-attacking brand of football and he’s got a lot of fast players, especially towards that front third and in midfield as well.”

United’s foreign recruits Leo Lacroix and Aleksandar Prijovic are both expected to feature, either starting or off the bench, after building fitness in friendlies.

Aloisi stressed his players were still finding rhythm and chemistry after what he considered the most disrupted pre-season of his career but was confident of still delivering a strong FFA Cup run.

“Every competition for us is going to be really important,” he said.

“Because we want to win trophies, we’re ambitious, the players are ambitious and they know that if they do win something they’re going to be written in the history books as the first team or players to win something with Western United.

“That’s a way of actually building a football club as well, is when you start winning it does help the club grow quicker.

“It is important for us.”

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