"We were very reliant on playing through Craig last year and from pre-season we have started trying to find other solutions for that," Veart told reporters on Thursday.

"And just as well, because Craig moved on.

"We started day one (of pre-season) changing the game plan so we didn't rely so much on Craig ... because even if Craig was here, we still couldn't keep relying on him to to do what he did for us last year.

"We're a fair way down that track.

"We needed to make changes because we want to go all the way and we haven't been able to do that, so we had to change to make sure we can get some success."

Veart forecast even greater impact from 17-year-old Nestory Irankunda in what looms as the forward's last domestic season before moving to German giants Bayern Munich.

The eye-catching Irankunda scored five goals last season coming off the bench and Veart said the teen was now ready for more game time.

"Nestor has worked extremely hard in the pre-season," he said.

"This is his third pre-season with the A-League squad, just with that time he has developed more physically and you'll see that this year.

"He will be a lot more dangerous this year than what he was last year. He's definitely in the mix to start."

The Reds have lost semi-finals in the past two seasons - last season they were downed by the Mariners, who went on to capture the title.

And with Central Coast's championship-winning coach Nick Montgomery leaving to take over Hibernian in the Scottish Premiership, Veart said the Mariners were something of an unknown quantity.

"They've made changes to their playing staff and coaching staff so we're a little bit unsure whether there's going to be a change in their playing style," he said.

"But they were a great side last year and we expect it to be a very difficult game again tomorrow night."

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