Western Sydney Wanderers become A-League minor premiers in their inaugural seasn with a 3-0 victory over Newscastle Jets

THE Western Sydney Wanderers have celebrated becoming A-League premiers in their inaugural season with a 3-0 victory over the Newcastle Jets.

AS WESTERN Sydney Wanderers celebrate becoming A-League premiers in their inaugural season, coach Tony Popovic feels having the first week off in the finals series couldn't be better timed.

Key midfielders Shinji Ono (groin) and Aaron Mooy (knee) and defenders Adam D'Apuzzo (foot) and Jerome Polenz (quad) were sidelined as the Wanderers beat Newcastle Jets 3-0 at Hunter Stadium on Friday.

"We'll freshen up some players, give some players who are injured the opportunity to be available," Popovic said.

The Wanderers won a remarkable 11 games out of the past 12 to secure the premiers plate, making them the first expansion club in Australian football history to win the trophy in their debut season.

The Wanderers will be presented with the plate before their fanatical home crowd in the first semi-final on April 12. Under the shortened finals format, the winner of that and the other semi-final involving the second-placed Central Coast Mariners will meet in the grand final on April 21.

The Wanderers have also qualified for next year's Asian Champions League.

SEMI-FINAL

WHAT: Wanderers v lowest-ranked winner of elimination finals

WHERE: Parramatta Stadium

WHEN: Friday, April 12, 7.30pm

TICKET SALES: Wanderers members, Tuesday 9am-5pm; Football Family, tomorrow, 9am-11pm; general public, Thursday 9am Sunday 5pm; away team members, next Monday, 9am-11pm; general public reopens, next Tuesday, 9am

DETAILS :a-league.com.au/tickets