The Reds entered the match in Gosford with a chance to join the Mariners on 35 points at the top of the A-League ladder, despite having lost last weekend to Melbourne Heart.

However, the visitors let the opportunity slip through their hands, despite taking the lead courtesy of a left-foot strike from Daniel Bowles in the 39th minute.

"We have got healthy bodies coming back," Adelaide coach Kosmina said, highlighting midfielder Marcelo Corrusca who returned from an adductor injury.

"Marcelo had a good 20 minutes, he has been out for three weeks.  He will come straight back in, whether he could have lasted 90 was always going to be debatable."

Kosmina also confirmed the return of two Socceroos to the starting line-up might not be far away.

"Jon McKain has got some good match fitness now and we have got Bruce Djite not far away," he said.

While not having Carrusca, Djite and McKain is significant, Kosmina was under no illusions about the most influential player the Reds were missing, Fabio Ferreira, currently out with a groin injury . 

"We miss Fabio, really, to be frank," Kosmina said.

Noting the influence of the Portugese winger, Kosmina added: "Taking nothing away from Evan Kostopoulos or Iain Ramsay, Fabio has scored a few goals and he has set a few up as well.

"His pace and his composure has caused teams problems."

Kosmina admitted the Mariners were now 'the team to beat' and conceded at times the execution of the basics were letting his side down.

He added: "If you keep turning the ball over like that you are going to build pressure on yourself and eventually you are going to start to feel the pinch physically and mentally.

"That's what started to happen late in the second half.

"We turned the ball over way too cheaply in the first half and we went in a goal up."