"It's very important no to get sucked into losing out temper. You saw in the A-League grand final we did sort of lose our temper a bit when things didn't go our way. Viddy [Aurelio Vidmar] wants us to play good football," Costanzo told www.au.fourfourtwo.com.

Chinese teams have developed a reputation for out of control behaviour on the park. A recent friendly between Chongqing and Dalian Shide was abandoned because of fighting while the Chinese Olympic team's vicious brawl in London against QPR received widespread coverage.

Tonight's crunch opening Asian Champions League match also provides Adelaide with a perfect opportunity to reinvent itself after the disaster of the 2007 A-League grand final.

"Viddy's tinkered with the system and style we’re playing so it'll be a different Adelaide United for sure. Viddy will bring a different style in. I think away from home we may be a touch more defensive but you got to win your home games and that's what we’re looking to do.

"They [Shandong Luneng] are a bit of an unknown quality but like most Asian teams, they’ll be fast and mobile."

Costanzo has been tipped for a midfield role against the Chinese after a spate of injuries to key midfield Reds Jason Spagnuolo, Diego, Bobby Petta and former skipper Ross Aloisi.

The new captain described it as "difficult" having to take over the role from his good friend Aloisi but said "we’re both professionals and we have to move on".

"As a football club we’ve got to move forward and get behind Viddy ahead of this Asian Champions League campaign. It’s a prestigious tournament and Adelaide will be representing Australia."

According to sources in Adelaide, ticket sales have been slow for this game. It's not expected to be a sellout.