Gold Coast United defender Kristian Rees is expecting a very determined and focused performance from North Queensland Fury on Sunday.

The two Queensland clubs face off in the Nickel Cup at Dairy Farmers Stadium this weekend and after having Wednesday's scheduled clash with Newcastle Jets postponed, Rees expects the Fury to come out firing.

He also knows that the uncertainty the club is facing regarding their future and the fact that head coach Franz Straka and his assistant Stuart McLaren have to serve a one-match suspension is bound to spur them on.

"I've been in that position before when I was at Adelaide and although it is a little strange it doesn't really change what happens on the field too much," Rees said.

"The coach goes through what he wants each player to do during the final training session and basically has his pre-match team talk the day before if he has to.

"There's always a way to get messages down to the dressing room or the bench if it's necessary so I can't see it affecting Fury too much.

"From what I have seen, Franz Straka does do a lot of motivating from the sidelines so maybe they will miss that a little bit, but players know their jobs and I'm sure they will dig in as usual."

Rees also exp "ected the Fury to play a high-tempo game style and try to catch the United defence unawares.

Fury play a high tempo game but it's hard to keep that up for the whole ninety minutes," he added. "If we don't concede, the longer the game goes on the more chance we'll have to get a grip on the match and dictate what happens. We'll be patient and be ready to impose ourselves on the match at the right time."