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Amid uncertainty over their future ownership, Newcastle lost coach Carl Robinson, and later forward Bernie Ibini, to Western Sydney.
With no replacement appointed, Craig Deans will take the reins at Central Coast Stadium on New Year's Eve.
"They've still got the squad they had last year - they're missing Dimi Petratos who's obviously been a key player for them for two or three years but I'm always wary of the wounded bull," Stajcic said.
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"They've taken a few hits to their pride but when you've got players like (Nigel) Boogaard and (Nikolai) Topor-Stanley and (Roy) O'Donovan and (Steven) Ugarkovic and Jack Duncan in goals now, (Jason) Hoffman - it's just a team filled with so much experience.