Newcastle coach Branko Culina feels his Jets have proven to the "doubters" they are bona fide A-League finals contenders.
The Jets have turned their season around after a shaky start and financial woes that at one stage put the future of the club in doubt.
They're now eying a finals berth sitting in sixth spot with two games in hand and a win against Gold Coast on Wednesday night will take them to fifth.
"Everyone doubted us early on in the season when we had a slow start and during all the problems with the ownership and everything," Culina told AAP on Wednesday.
"But we've done well but those people just don't take notice unless you're winning all the time.
"There are some clubs that win one match and everyone just jumps on the bandwagon and there are some clubs that have to do a bit more to get noticed.
"We're one of those clubs that needs to continuously do more before people start giving us a little bit of credit.
"But I'm not really worried what other people think. I never have been."
The Jets have posted a six-game unbeaten streak with a win over the second-placed Adelaide and a draw against top dogs Brisbane among the results.
Their run continued last weekend with a 10-man side stunning Melbourne Heart 2-0 after Jobe Wheelhouse was sent off in the seventh minute.
So Culina sees their match against the third-placed Gold Coast at EnergyAustralia Stadium on Wednesday night as a welcome challenge.
"Playing teams that are in form is the best measure of where you're at so we're looking forward to it.
"They're a good side, they've got a lot of great players so they're a solid unit and they've become very hard to beat.
"So it will be a good test for us tomorrow."
The Jets will be without Ruben Zadkovich and Ben Kantarovski, both out with injuries, while Wheelhouse is serving a two-match suspension.
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