Currently sitting fifth on the A-League table, the Central Coast Mariners are keen to set up their season with a win over Adelaide United. The Mariners will be eager to run the Reds ragged after a grueling Asian Champions League campaign but Mariners coach Lawrie McKinna was wary of his opponents physical condition.

"Although we had a week off last week, we trained reasonably hard, we came into our last game after a break against the Wellington Phoenix underdone and we're making sure that we won't do the same with this game," McKinna said.

"It's a big game for the club, if we win this one we go second in the Hyundai A-League, we're very happy with where we're at in the season, but we really need to get a few wins together now.

"It's going to be hard for Adelaide, I don't agree that they'll be tired, I think they've dealt with their workload brilliantly, Viddie has done a good job and credit to them, they've been fantastic for Australian football."

The Mariners welcome back defender Nigel Boogaard from injury whilst Adelaide have a number of key 'ins' including goalkeeper Eugene Galekovic, midfielders Paul Reid and Jason Spagnuolo and Young Socceroo Daniel Mullen who returns from international duty.

The match is the only one in the A-League this week and was rescheduled due to Adelaide's ACL final during the week.

Kick off is at 7:30pm local time at Bluetongue Stadium, home of the Mariners.