Central Coast coach Mike Mulvey insists his team can climb off the bottom of the ladder despite their disappointing start to the A-League season.
The last-placed Mariners are the only side without a win this season and are set to be without marquee Ross McCormack for Friday's clash with Western Sydney.
The former Scotland international was named in Mulvey's squad on Thursday but is expected to miss the match after copping a knock to the leg last week.
Star midfielder Tommy Oar also remains sidelined for another fortnight, but defender Kalifa Cisse returns from a one-week suspension.
"Cisse's back in the squad, he's available for selection. I'm sure he'll play. Ross McCormack is less chance of playing," Mulvey told reporters on Thursday.
Despite the season being just six rounds old, the pressure is on the Mariners to stay within sight of the top four.
They are currently nine points adrift of fourth-placed Adelaide, but Mulvey is adamant their ladder position is not reflective of their performances.
"There's no hope lost. All hope is actually right there," he said.
"It's optimistic because if you dig down underneath the last two performances, we've played very well.
"We took Perth to the last minute and we lost to Sydney at home against a team that is one of the better teams in the league.
"We're doing a lot of good things right, we're just not getting the rub of the green."
The Mariners take on a Wanderers side that has endured its own slow start to the campaign, winning just one from their opening six matches.
However, they will be boosted by the inclusion of import Patrick Ziegler in what will be his first appearance in the A-League due to a knee injury.
Wanderers coach Markus Babbel opted not to give the 28-year-old minutes with the youth team last week because it was played on synthetic turf.
"I hope he can play 90 minutes. He will help us a lot because he brings out (the best) for the players around him, he is like an anchor," Babel said.
"I hope he is not too nervous on Friday because it's his first game in more than two months.
"I know how difficult it is but we need him now and he's a top defender. I believe he will show his performance and he will help the team win three points."
STATS THAT MATTER
* Wanderers striker Oriol Riera has had 35 shots in total this season - at least nine more than any other player in the league.
* It's been over a year since Central Coast won a game away from home.
* Central Coast have finished three of their past six games with a passing accuracy below 70 per cent, more times than in their previous 62 games.
Australian Associated Press
