The Reds have undergone an intense pre-season under new German boss Marco Kurz, which has included numerous double sessions each week.

Adelaide stormed home against Victory in the FFA Cup on Wednesday night at Marden Sports Complex, after a goalless first half.

Reds defender Ersan Gulum claimed his side would be "fitter" than Victory in the lead-up and the trio of second-half goals vindicated his suggestion.

Absalonsen, who joined Adelaide from Danish club SonderjyskE in the off-season, downplayed those claims.

"We are humble," the 31-year-old Dane said.

"We know that other teams also train hard and do their stuff. We know we have to be focused every training and enjoy it.


1-0 Johan Absalonsen AMAZING Goal - Adelaide... by taftadarka2016

"We're in good shape now and we could feel it in the second half but the other teams will also be in good shape.

"One game doesn't decide that we're in the best physical shape in the league. We still have to improve."

Absalonsen also refused to get carried away with the one-sided result, which followed their 1-0 victory over another A-League opponent, Newcastle Jets, in the Round of 32 after last year's disappointing ninth-place finish.

"This is a game where we can take some confidence and a good feeling from, especially from the second half," he said.

"But still we're so early in pre-season and the A-League hasn't started yet so we're calm about. We'll take the good feeling."

Absalonsen said he felt a change in attitude after half-time against Victory was the catalyst for their win, rather than superior fitness.

"I think it was our attitude in the second half," he said.

"We came out strong and pressuring them high. We won some balls, got some confidence and then got the 1-0 goal.

"That, in my opinion, turned the game around and other than that it was pretty much us who set the game.

"Marco said we need to be more confident in our pressure and believe in each other in our pressure."

The Dane netted the breakthrough goal, scoring with a fine long-range left-foot strike.

"I've scored a few, but this is one of my better goals," the former Brondby, OB and FC Copenhagen man said.

"I turned around and saw I had space in front of me. The right defender wasn't pressuring me. I took a shot and luckily it went in.

"It's always good to score and get the feeling of scoring goals.

"That creates more goals in the future. It was a good feeling and a good feeling for the team."