Despite an enormous clash approaching that could see the Central Coast Mariners make the top four, coach Lawrie McKinna has praised this weekend's rivals Adelaide United.

The Mariners need to knock off the league leaders to finish in the final four whilst Adelaide also need three points to make sure they are able to regain top spot and become minor premiers; it was also see them qualify for the Asian Champions League which is what the Mariners will be setting themselves when the A-League season ends.

McKinna is determined to do well in the lucrative Asian competition and will look at how the Reds went about their successful campaign in which they reached the final.

"I think Adelaide have set the benchmark, they along with Melbourne were in the AFC Champions League last season and they've had a great Hyundai A-League season, people who say we're playing enough games as it is, that theory goes right out the window," said McKinna.

"These guys have played a lot of games, especially Adelaide, and they've set the standards on what we have to do in Asia next year, if we can get close to what they've done it will be a huge achievement.

"Hopefully we can get a result, it doesn't matter if we need it or if we don't need it, it's good to go into your last game and get a result, get a bit of confidence back, have a weeks rest and get into it for the first Finals Series game."