Patrick Zwaanswijk backs the Mariners to handle twin pressures of A-League and Asian Champions League Mariners defender Patrick Zwaanswijk is confident the club can handle the combined pressures of A-League and the Asian Champions League. IF anyone is going to feel the strain of the Central Coast Mariners punishing A-League and Asian Champions League schedule matches it would be Patrick Zwaanswijk. But the 38-year-old Dutchman says he and his team have the depth and desire to succeed in both competitions. The Mariners face a gruelling two months beginning with tomorrow night's pivotal game against the third-placed Melbourne Victory at Bluetongue Stadium. Their Asian Champions League campaign then kicks off on Wednesday at home against South Korean side the Suwon Bluewings. "We can handle it," Zwaanswijk told The Daily Telegraph. You can have success in both competitions look at what Adelaide did a few years ago. The Mariners' first overseas match is on March 13 with a trip to Japan to face Kashiwa Reysol but that is just the start of things with another four Asian Champions League fixtures right in the middle of the A-League finals in April including two overseas trips, to China and South Korea. One blessing for the Mariners is they have only one A-League match left where they need to get on a plane, the round 26 match against Adelaide United. Four of the remaining six matches are at Bluetongue Stadium and the round 24 match against Sydney FC is at Allianz Stadium. Zwaanswijk is confident the Mariners have the experience and squad to handle the load. "We have the depth," Zwaanswijk said. We have 21 players who can all play in the first team they all know what to do and they all know the tasks they have to do. We have to rotate players in that competition. We are going to need everyone to play. You can't play the same players all the time when you play three games a week Saturday, Wednesday, Saturday. We've got players who can play two positions and there's competition for spots. After the loss of Tom Rogic to Celtic the Mariners goal supply was expected to dry up but coach Graham Arnold has managed to generate even more goals without him. Zwaanswijk rates the former Socceroos coach as one of the best he's played under. "He's one of the most honest guys I've ever worked with," Zwaanswijk said. He has learned a lot over the years and turned into a great coach. Financially we are not a big club but Arnie knows the right players to get. Tomorrow's A-League encounter against the visiting Victory is a vital fixture for coach Arnold's men. After last weekend's loss to the Glory in Perth the Mariners' lead at the top has been reduced to a single point and the coach would dearly love another three to add to the tally before the Asian Champions league fixtures start "We have to take the games one by one," Zwaanswijk said. We have to think about beating Melbourne Victory before we concentrate on the Asian Champions League.