Central Coast coach Mike Mulvey wants his players to forget their 10 straight losses and play for the future despite the A-League's most unwanted record hanging over their head.
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The Mariners will face Melbourne City on Wednesday night in an attempt to avoid 11 consecutive losses - a mark that will equal the New Zealand Knights' streak from the competition's inaugural year.
Mulvey's men have not won a game since last February and have only two draws earlier this season to show for their efforts.
"It can crush your spirit if you're not able to overlook (the past) and get on with the next thing," Mulvey said.
"Any success that you have in life, it's a lot more important if you've overcome some obstacles along the way. And we're having a lot of obstacles at the moment, so we keep on keeping on."
There is good news on the way despite letting slip a 2-0 half-time lead against Wellington last Saturday.
Mulvey expects the club will be able to announce two new signings within the next week, with at least one of an international player.
It comes after they lost star striker Ross McCormack to Scottish club Motherwell, after the Mariners' horror start to the season included him suffering a knee injury while on loan from Aston Villa.
Meanwhile Melbourne City coach Warren Joyce has told his players to call upon their experiences from their pre-season trip to India to battle the heat expected on Wednesday.
It's likely to reach above 30C on the Central Coast before the night game, while the third-placed City also have to play three days later at home against Perth.
"We had it pretty harsh in the pre-season. The journey was horrendous, the conditions were hot and tough and you have to deep," Joyce said.
"The more we expose players to it the more they are used to digging deep."
Australian Associated Press
