Sydney take on United at the SFS this weekend, the first of three home games in a eight days that will go a long way to determining the A-League champions' season.

Despite enduring a wretched run of injuries to key players and no wins from their first six games, Cole is confident the club are about to turn their ailing fortunes around.

The 26-year-old said he had already noticed a change in attitude and atmosphere within the camp after the weekend off and is adamant a heart-to-heart team talk last week has the players ready to surge back into contention.

"We had a bit of a chat about a few things but especially about the quality of training and the intensity had to improve," Cole said on Tuesday after he and team-mates Stuart Musialik and Stephan Keller swam with Sharks.

"The intensity has been a lot better already this week, we noticed it in training right away and we need to keep it going.

"If the standard at training goes up then we'll have that little bit extra when it comes to the games.

"A lot of games we've been right in but just little bits of lapses in concentration has hurt us.

"But if we can fix those little things then we'll start getting some results."

Vitezslav Lavicka's side should also be boosted this weekend with the return of three key players from injury, with skipper Terry McFlynn (hamstring), striker Alex Brosque (ankle) and midfielder Nicky Carle (toe) all likely to play.

"It's good timing for us and a big boost, they are some of the finest players in the whole league," Cole said.

"But we can't just rely on those individuals. We've got to improve as a team and play well as a team.

"Gold Coast are a good team, a strong team and there's a lot on the line for them as well.

"Every week we don't win it makes it harder to keep up with the top teams."

Sydney will need to end a poor record against Gold Coast United if they are to get their season off the ground, having lost to Miron Bleiberg's troops on all three meetings last season.