Gameiro will suit up for Central Coast Mariners on Friday night alongside Russell Vale junior Jordan Murray and Albion Park’s Josh MacDonald in a pre-season hit-out against Wollongong Wolves, featuring Milton-Ulladulla product Chris Price, at WIN Stadium.

The contest comes just weeks after Wollongong put in its final submission to the FFA to be included in an expanded A-League competition.

The match will also take place seven days before the Mariners take on Macarthur South West United at Campbelltown Sports Stadium. 

The merged South West Sydney-Macarthur entity is also vying for entry into the A-League and is set to be in direct competition with the Wolves in the fight for an expansion spot.  While this week’s controversial Extraordinary General Meeting of the FFA Congress has since put the final date of expansion in doubt, Gameiro believes the region must show their support at every possible chance. 

"We need people to come to the game so [the Wolves bid can get approved] and they get into the A-League,” he said.

"I love the club and think they deserve to be there and as [Wolves skipper Chris Price] said, there is players coming through like Jordan, myself and Josh. And they are only recent ones.

"There are so many players who have gone through the Wollongong Wolves and made it into Socceroos teams. Matt Jurman is from down here.”

Wolves skipper Chris Price shared Gameiro’s passion and felt the match ranked among the most important the club had played in recent times.

"It is huge," he said.

"We have had a couple opportunities previously with the Central Coast and Sydney FC in the FFA Cup and put on a really good show. But this is a really big opportunity. 

“It is crunch time for the A-League bid and a perfect way to send a message to the powers that be that Wollongong is ready. We have got the facilities, the support and the backing. The club is there and ready to go.”

The Wolves are one of just two bids vying for a spot in the A-League based in a regional area. Their bid undoubtedly shares similarities with the Mariners, who also have punch above their weight against the bigger capital cities.

It’s a fact not lost on Central Coast Mariners chief executive Shaun Mielekamp.

“We know that it is a really important part for the Central Coast Mariners to show there is a sustainable and effective model for a regional club in the national competition,” he said. 

“It is not as easy as it may look from the outside but we know that if there is a licence awarded in a regional area, then we will work very closely with those guys to make sure all the difficulties we might have experienced over the last couple of seasons aren’t ones that someone else has.”

Meanwhile, sprinting star Usain Bolt trained with the Central Coast Mariners squad on Thursday afternoon.

However, the eight-time Olympic gold medallist isn’t expected to take part in the pre-season encounter.

PRE-SEASON MATCH

Wollongong Wolves vs. Central Coast Mariners

Friday, 7:30pm