Newcastle Jets coach Branko Culina says he is well aware of new Adelaide United boss Rini Coolen.

The Dutchman has come to Australia as a relative unknown in the football community but there is one man who knows all about him as he coached Culina's son Jason back in Holland and knows what to expect when the Jets meet the Reds tomorrow night in their A-League opener.

''He was Jason's coach and actually applied for a job when I was at Sydney,'' Culina revealed to theSMH. ''He contacted me and asked if I'd be interested in bringing him in as my assistant. He is a typical Dutch coach. Their philosophy doesn't change. That is the Dutch school.

''What you hear Melbourne Heart coach [John van 't Schip] say, you will probably hear him [Coolen] say. Their philosophy is the same, it is about keeping possession, using wingers and so forth.''

Culina said Adelaide's game plan is likely to change under Coolen but said the Jets had to focus on their own style first.

''We know how Adelaide like to play,'' he added. ''The only uncertainty is what the new coach will do. Whether he will want to change things or let it go for a little while before he puts his own stamp on it.

''It's hard to get people to change their habits. It takes time. If the team is used to playing defensively, they won't become an offensive team overnight.

''We will touch on Adelaide tomorrow a little bit. It was important that we focus on what we have to do first.''