Newcastle Jets coach Gary van Egmond has the utmost confidence in young goalkeeper Ben Kennedy ahead of his Asian Champions League debut tonight.

Since the departure of the brilliant Ante Covic, Kennedy has stepped up to the number one spot and will face Nagoya Grampus in an unfamiliar environment in their third ACL group match.

van Egmond says although there is some pressure on the young boy, he believes he is ready for the challenge.

"He's getting more and more confident day by day even if it's a slightly different process as far as keepers are concerned," van Egmond said before training in Nagoya last night.

"But he's looked good at training, and he's starting to take on the persona of a No.1 keeper. We can't sign anyone else, so that's what we need from him and, at this moment, I think he's up to it."