The Reds were disappointed to surrender top spot to their arch rivals but Dodd is trying to be philosophical about the result.

He said: "It shows we are human after all.

"We've picked up some fantastic results over the last few months, we've achieved a lot of great things, but it's been a heavy schedule and to back up after three days was always going to be difficult against Melbourne in Melbourne."

Adelaide's efforts during their Tuesday night clash immediately improved once the Victory's Nick Ward scored in the 58th minute.

Dodd said the players would be focused on showing that intensity from the opening whistle against the Jets.

He said: "Hopefully we can play that attacking style of football from the start. It's a hard one to work out why, and I think you find it from teams everywhere, when you go a goal down it's like you wake up and you start playing."

While Adelaide won't meet Newcastle in the finals, they are pumped up for the Hindmarsh Stadium clash. Dodd said the team saw the encounter as a high-stakes game.

He said: "The adrenaline should be enough to get us across the line. There's still a lot to play for, for us. We've still got a game in hand so if we can pick up points this week and on Wednesday against Queensland then we find ourselves back on top.

"With the games in hand it's a great opportunity to finish top, or the top two at least, and have a real crack at the championship."

But securing the three points against the Jets isn't going to be easy despite their lowly position on the ladder.

"They've probably got players fighting for contracts and looking forward to next year and they've also got the Champions League to look forward to so they are not going to lay down for us. They'll be trying to get some form and momentum to build up for the Champions League," Dodd said.

Meanwhile United will probably need to win at least one of their next four games to guarantee a place in the finals. However Dodd said his team had loftier expectations.

"I think now, the position we've put ourselves in, we have to set our expectations a bit higher. I think to say now we would be happy with a top-four spot wouldn't be fair on ourselves - we've definitely worked hard enough to get a top-two spot," he said.