EXCLUSIVE: Jets star Adam Griffiths declared his side will take a first leg lead against Central Coast on Sunday as ticket sales surge ahead of this huge F3 derby.

“The feeling is that as a team we have to lift up another level for finals football. The mentality of the team and the coaching staff is that we're going out to win this game.

“We're going to do everything we can to win the game on Sunday. Then once that game is over we'll focus on the next one.

"If we can concentrate on beating them, then we'll see what happens after that," Griffiths told au.fourfourtwo.com ahead of Sunday's A-League major semi final first leg at Energy Australia stadium, Newcastle.

He added: “Maybe a 2-0 win to us."

Finals fever F3 style has gripped the Hunter with only a couple of thousand general admission tickets available as of Thursday night.

Officials are confident that weather permitting the game will sell out Energy Australia stadium. Around 24,000 fans tipped to squeeze into the revamped ground for this Northern NSW thriller.

And Jets fans may just see a new face in a gold shirt on Sunday. Griffiths, 28, said that new signing Song Jin-hyung, a former South Korean youth international, was looming as a very handy acquisition and may be the X-factor the side is looking for.

“He's very good technically. He definitely has potential and is a good find for us for the future. I'm not sure if he'll play or be on the bench on Sunday though.

”I haven't seen a helluva lot of him but he's a gifted player with good touches, but at the moment it's hard to say what he'll be like because he hasn't played in the A-League.”

Griffiths adds that the crowd will play its part in making this an F3 derby to remember - even if Mariners fans appear to him to be more full on than Jets fans.

“I think they have more of a disliking than what Newcastle have of them,” he said.

“I don't know why they don't like us to be honest. I'm not sure why they don't like us, but it's no problem.

“I don't know whether it's a little bit bluff, it creates good viewing for the audience and I think the rivalry will only get stronger. I think it's a little bit of hype to be honest.”

Griffiths described the week as “an interesting” one after both he and his brother Joel were selected in Pim Verbeek's 39-man Socceroo squad for the World Cup qualifier against Qatar.

“It's something to be proud of. It's been so busy with all the media attention because of it but we've still got a big week ahead of us.

“It's a league that's growing so there seems to be a lot of media attention and discussion about the league – which is good.”