Donning their rediscovered goalscoring boots, Central Coast are plotting a smash-and-grab revenge mission against Brisbane Roar.
The Mariners walk into their Thursday night away match against the Roar enjoying an unbeaten streak across four games - so unlike the side they were when they lost 2-1 to the Roar six weeks ago.
Compared with just two goals in their opening four losses, the defending champions have found the back of the net 12 times in their past four games while conceding just five times.
Alou Kuol has been a revelation in attack for the ninth-placed Mariners, while Colombian attacker Angel Tores put on a masterclass in their last outing, scoring a hat-trick in a dramatic 3-3 draw against Melbourne City.
Coach Mark Jackson says there was always belief the team could turn things around after a dismal start to the season.
"Even when results weren't coming, we had an underlying confidence that we could achieve," Jackson said on Wednesday.
"It's the boys who go out there and cross the white line, and to perform to the levels they did they deserve a lot of credit for that.
"Those performances where we didn't get results early on in the season, we were pleased with a lot of aspects in those.
"We know over time the performances have been building, and we know that we've still got more in the locker."
Meanwhile, the fifth-placed Roar will be regrouping after suffering their second loss of the season.
Ross Aloisi's Brisbane went down last round in what was a dramatic 2-1 comeback from younger brother John's Western United.
The hosts will at least take consolation in hosting Central Coast at home, having gone unbeaten at their Suncorp Stadium fortress in three games so far.
Mariners midfielder Josh Nisbet knows pulling off a successful ambush at Aloisi's stronghold won't come easy, but he believes their luck is about to change.
Central Coast have triumphed over Brisbane in four out of their past five encounters.
"It may be tough but ... I think it'd be a matter of time before (the Roar) start tumbling over each other and we start running," Nisbet said.
"We did well against Western the week before, and they've just had a recent loss against them.
"We're going to take that confidence in our results and their poor results and be going into the game trying to win it all."
