Coach Aurelio Vidmar and his assistant Phil Stubbins have flown out of Adelaide to watch the Steelers play their opening K-League match of the season against Chunnam Dragons today.

Coincidentally, the Dragons play Melbourne Victory next Wednesday night at Telstra Dome in their opening ACL fixture.

The rest of the Reds squad and support staff leave today – a day earlier than the club left for last year's away games and a valuable way to acclimatise. Adelaide has been hit with heatwave conditions this week while wintry conditions will greet the squad in South Korea.

Socceroo Travis Dodd tells au.fourfourtwo.com that a loss to Pohang would be “terrible” but adds his side's home form will ultimately decide the group.

“The travelling is not going to make it any easier but in saying that, we've got a year's experience now in the ACL so we know what to expect.”

Pohang are expected to be the toughest opposition in a group that features China's Changchun Yatai and Bin Duong of Vietnam.

“I think it can be an advantage to get it out of the way,” Dodd adds of next Wednesday night's tough test. “In saying that, it's very important we get off to a good start and get some sort of result. A loss would be a terrible way to start the campaign.

“I think in the ACL you do get more time on the ball but we need to be more deadly in front of goals. And we need to be determined to defend our goal.”

The Reds will be without new signings Sasa Ognenovski and Alvin Ceccoli due to personal reasons.

Adelaide played a trial match on Thursday night at Hindmarsh beating local Super League side Parra Hills 2-0.