Despite a budget dwarfed by sides like Pohang Steelers of the K-League and, most recently J-League high-flyers Kashima Antlers, Adelaide have shown guts as well as guile can triumph against big spenders across the continent. A spot in the ACL semi finals is proof.

"In Kashima every single player gave their all. We didn't leave anything out on the pitch. I think we've shown the Australian spirit comes into it," he told au.fourfourtwo.com.

It's no coincidence that the Reds' hierarchy has also shown a hunger for the ACL. Clearly that's translated to the playing group - one of the smaller rosters in the knockout stages of the ACL.

"The spirit kind of took over against the $22m that Kashima's worth," said Galekovic. "In the end, we're in the semis and they're out of the ACL. It's got us far.

"But we've defended very well too and our midfield defended well too."

In seven days, the most significant match in the history of the three-year-old A-League takes place on the immaculate surface of Hindmarsh Stadium in Adelaide.

Uzbekistan's Bunyodkor, Adelaide's ACL semi final opponent, certainly fall into the Asian moneybags category.

With former Brazilian World Cup star Rivaldo on over 10m euros a season and new coach Zico similarly on a motzah, it's going to be another fascinating clash of styles and financial backing.

The game, which is already close to being a sellout, could be decided by the first leg, says the 27-year-old Reds custodian.

"You can't concede at home," added Galekovic. "And you've got to win at home. But I don't reckon they'll come and attack us. They'll be happy with a 0-0.

"We'll play pretty much play attacking football to try to make it a lot easier when we get over. Hopefully we'll put them away."

And Galekovic rejects the idea of shutting down Rivaldo by sacrificing a Reds man for a man-marking job.

He added: "We've just got to play our normal game at the back as a four... we've got to play our normal game at home and dominate them.

"Danilo [of Kashima] didn't have much room and had to drop deep. Hopefully we can stop the ball getting to Rivaldo too."

The way the Reds defence passed on the Brazilian dangerman Danilo and squeezed the space when they were without possession was a masterclass in how to shut down danger.

"I know they have a good Chilean striker too so it's not just about Rivaldo," Galekovic said.

And it's not just about the Reds' brutally efficient defence – despite the loss of Sasa Ognenovski for the first leg. It's also about Galekovic as the last line of defence.

So, what's Galekovic's secret? It turns out it's deceptively simple.

He revealed: "When I was in Melbourne [at Victory], we kinda had a rotation system.

"Both Michael Theoklitos and I were rotated in season one and we didn't have so much confidence and weren't doing as well.

"And once Ernie decided to have that one keeper, Michael got that confidence. When I came to Adelaide, Viddy [coach Aurelio Vidmar] gave me the number one spot and now I've had that confidence.

"A lot of it is mental as well as attitude. But for a goalkeeper, confidence is a vital ingredient."