Mariners job only half done: Sydney FC's Whyman

Taking no comfort in her side’s one-goal lead, Sydney FC goalkeeper Jada Whyman knows the Sky Blues’ semi-final job against Central Coast Mariners isn’t done just yet.

On the brink of a seventh-straight A-League Women grand final, the Sky Blues will host the Mariners at Leichhardt Oval on Saturday for the return leg of their qualifying clash.

Whyman is urging her side to maintain their full-throttle philosophy to seal the deal, after a second-half strike from Mackenzie Hawkesby launched Sydney to victory at Industree Group Stadium.

Pulling off six crucial saves in Gosford to deny gun attackers Kyah Simon, Wurigumula and Rola Badawiya, the star stopper is under no illusions about how easily Central Coast could grapple the game’s momentum.

Jada Whyman pulled off a string of fine saves to keep a clean sheet in the first leg. (Steven Markham/AAP PHOTOS)

“It’s only a one-goal lead, so we’ve got to make sure we go into this game thinking it’s a normal game and score a few more,” Whyman told AAP.

“The message is the same as in the first game: go out there, put grit, put hard work in.

“It would be amazing to be in the grand final – but we still need to focus on this week and do the job at hand.”

Sky Blues forward Princess Ibini has been cleared to play after dislocating her shoulder in the first-leg clash.

The eight-cap Australia international was substituted out of Sunday’s game in the second half, but Whyman insisted Ibini’s withdrawal was just a precaution.

“She hasn’t missed a training session. She’s fine,” Whyman said.

“She’s a tough cookie. She’ll push through no matter what.”

Ibini’s inclusion will be a relief for the Sky Blues, who have suffered a number of long-term injuries in their crusade for another grand final.

Among them, Sydney lost defensive stalwart Nat Tobin to a torn anterior cruciate ligament in their opening-round win over Western United, with fullback Kirsty Fenton succumbing to a similar injury in March.

“Being in semi-finals or a grand final is always a big honour and a big achievement, and each season has its own challenges,” Whyman said.

“We’ve had a few more this year in terms of injuries and how many players we’ve lost throughout the season.

“We’ve got a lot of new girls and a lot of young girls coming in. It’s been their first semi-finals appearance.

“It’s been amazing that any player that’s come in has done their job very, very well – which has paid dividends and put us in the position that we are now.”

Central Coast came out of the first leg unscathed, with only long-term absentee Taren King unavailable.

King, who was awarded the captain’s armband at the beginning of the season, ruptured an anterior cruciate ligament in January.