CENTRAL COAST coach Lawrie McKinna is already looking forward to hosting Sydney FC next week, knowing a number of his regulars should be back on the park.

Last season's A-League runners-up came away with a 1-1 draw to champions Newcastle at EnergyAustralia Stadium on Friday night, despite fielding a very young side missing as many as six first-team regulars through injury.

McKinna expected new signing Dylan Macallister, star left-back Dean Heffernan and experienced central defender Nigel Boogaard would all return against this season's favourites at Bluetongue Stadium on Saturday.

"We had a lot of boys missing and credit to the boys that were out there, they worked hard," McKinna said of the draw.

In a game without too many chances until the very end, both sides were reasonably happy with a point.

Mariners striker Matt Simon's goal came against the run of play - just hours after he got off a plane from China following the Olyroos' failed campaign.

"I'm going to see if I can catch a flight next week to Sydney. It felt great," joked Simon, whose 86th-minute header was his first A-League goal.

"It's great to get the monkey off the back. I can't remember how it went in, I just know it did."

The Jets, who did all the pressing in the second half, got one back in the 90th minute through a penalty to Joel Griffiths after Central Coast's Brad Porter brought down Tarek Elrich with a lazy challenge in the box.

"Overall, we would have been happy to come away with a point and it's turned out that way, but it's hard to take after giving away a silly penalty at the end," McKinna said.

 In other A-League news, the Wellington Phoenix are keen to improve their reputation in their second season and have promised a bruising welcome for the highly fancied Queensland Roar today.

Wooden spooners last year, the Phoenix carry good form into the Westpac Stadium match after making the pre-season cup final.

An impressive off-season recruitment has lured skipper Andrew Durante and fellow defenders Jon McKain and Manny Muscat.

The Roar are missing captain Craig Moore through suspension.

The two sides played out a 1-1 draw three weeks ago.