United have enjoyed a stunning reversal of form of late. From wooden-spoon last season, Rini Coolen's Reds are unbeaten from their first seven games (4-3-0) and are well-placed to maintain that run at Hindmarsh stadium against a stuttering Glory.

And just as Adelaide have impressed so has Watson, whose contract has been extended into next month after arriving in Adelaide at the start of the season as a short-term replacement for Fabian Barbiero.

But talk of the Reds having reached their peak or resting on their laurels has been dismissed by Watson who is revelling in his new surroundings.

"Obviously we've had a good start and not many people expected it, but things have gone according to plan," he told au.fourfourtwo.com.

"Even after the wins though, all the boys still want more. So I think it's that driving factor to get everyone going.

"And everyone looks happy when they're playing and we enjoy each other's company."

In a clash of first versus third with four points separating the two sides, Watson, 23, says maintaining consistency in pressuring is one of the points coach Coolen is driving home to his charges each week. It's slowly starting to filter through to his unbeaten side.

"Perth are just behind us but all the boys are up for it," he said.

"We're playing at home so we've just got to keep the intensity up and make that a consistent pressure high up the park.

"Rini wants us to raise the level each week and we have to keep doing that ... but we can get a lot better."

Glory will have their own motivation. Two losses on the trot have stemmed what was a promising run of form. And club stalwart Jamie Harnwell will play his 242nd game for the Glory in both the old NSL and current A-League, and will be breaking Bobby Despotovski's record for games played at the club on Friday night.

Watson too has been one of the success stories of the Reds. While Marcos Flores, Sergio van Dijk and Matt Leckie gain the plaudits - and rightfully so - his conversion from midfielder to right back has been key.

Watson has played in all seven games this season, starting five, and has made the adjustment to Adelaide seamlessly.

It's impressive particularly given the lively midfielder came in from the VPL (Oakleigh Cannons) to a new city, new teammates, new position and new coach.

"I'm still getting used to it," he said of his defensive role. "There's still a lot to learn in terms of tactical and body positioning and I was a bit daunted by it at first, being a midfielder.

"But Rini was a defender himself but as the weeks have gone on it's gotten a little better each week.

"But I knew what the intensity was going to be like - I wasn't going to be shocked by it."

That preparedness has been helped by the fact he's trained and played with both Melbourne Victory and Sydney FC over recent seasons.

In fact, he was on the verge of signing for Sydney FC in 2007 before the deal fell over at the last minute after it looked like Branko Culina would sign him. The sky blues instead went with Ben Vidaic and Adam Biddle.

And the stints with Porto's youth side and in Holland's second tier between 2004 and 2007 demonstrated he has the quality to make the transition to the A-League.

"It's a hard situation a short-term contract, you don't really know when it's going to end," Watson added.

"It's not really in my hands. I just got to keep doing what I do and the rest should take care of itself.

"Obviously it's not ideal but it's better than sitting back in Melbourne wondering."