Head-to-head
Played 3: Gold Coast 1 win, Adelaide United 0 win, 2 draws

Previous Meeting
Gold Coast 1, Adelaide United 1, Skilled Park, January 9 2010

History
Adelaide United have never beaten Gold Coast after two 1-1 draws and a 2-0 win to Miron Bleiberg's men at Hindmarsh Stadium in their very first encounter.

Past five matches: Season So Far
Gold Coast: WDWDW
Adelaide United: WWDWW

Match Committee
Gold Coast regain the services of injured striker Joel Porter who has been sidelined since GC's Round 3 clash against Wellington with a hamstring tear. John Curtis also makes a welcome return after serving suspension while Bas van den Brink and Ben Halloran have been brought in to the selected squad. There is some doubt whether star striker Bruce Djite will play with Bleiberg already hinting that the ex Red wouldn't start the match together with Porter.

Adelaide United are without two of their star attacking trio with Matthew Leckie away on Young Socceroos duty and Marcos Flores suffering a hamstring tear against Sydney FC a fortnight ago. The FIFA international break came at a crucial time for the Argentine who is set to miss a further two weeks. The Reds welcomed back captain Travis Dodd last week in a cameo appearance, setting up United's equaliser while Fabian Barbiero looks set for his first appearance since last season after an ankle injury has kept him sidelined.

Danger men
While there is plenty of speculation about Djite not getting up for the match, GC's star striker will be doing everything he can to face off against his old side and the undefeated league leader.
A brace in his last match against Wellington has taken his tally to three for the season after only five appearances. His double last week demonstrated his power and shooting ability while his cheeky back heel for his second showed plenty of skill and improvisation.

Acting Reds captain Lucas Pantelis finished as United's top goal scorer last season, sharing the mantle with Dodd as both finished with five goals. This season Pantelis hasn't found the net but is in the top three for attempts on target and it will only be a matter of time before the diminutive midfielder finds his range. In the absence of Flores, Pantelis will move into the no. 10 role and shoulder more of the Reds' attacking duties.

At the end of the day…
Adelaide United escaped with a win against Sydney in their last hit out in a match where they probably didn't deserve all three points. A lucky own goal saw the Reds equalise and it seems if that kind of luck happens a few times in a season it's the difference between three wins and nine points and no points and three loses and then maybe a championship. Having said that, GC are in good form and the Reds are bound to lose eventually. Every week undefeated is a week closer to United dropping points and with Djite finding the back of the net and Porter returning GC could be the first team to beat the Reds. United are without two of its star attacking trio in Leckie and Flores which could see the visitors struggle in front of goal.

TEAMS:
Gold Coast United Squad:
1.Glen MOSS (gk), 2.Steve PANTELIDIS, 3.Michael THWAITE, 5.ROBSON, 6.Dino DJULBIC, 7.Zenon CARAVELLA, 10.Jason CULINA (c), 11.Bruce DJITE, 13.Bas VAN DEN BRINK, 14.Joel PORTER, 15.Tahj MINNIECON, 16.Kristian REES, 18.James BROWN, 20.Scott HIGGINS (gk), 22.Adama TRAORE, 23.Steve FITZSIMMONS, 26.Ben HALLORAN, 27.Chris HAROLD. *three to be omitted*
In: 13.Bas VAN DEN BRINK (promoted), 14.Joel PORTER (return from hamstring injury), 24.John CURTIS (return from suspension), 26.Ben HALLORAN (promoted)
Out: 19.Andrew BARISIC (not selected)
Unavailable: Daniel Piorkowski (ankle injury – 4 weeks), Matt Osman (knee injury – indefinite).

Adelaide United squad:
1.Eugene GALEKOVIC (gk), 2.Robert CORNTHWAITE, 4.Iain FYFE, 5.Daniel MULLEN, 6.CASSIO, 7.Lucas PANTELIS (c), 8.Adam HUGHES, 9.Sergio VAN DIJK, 12.Paul REID, 13.Travis DODD, 17.Iain RAMSAY, 18.Fabian BARBIERO, 24.Cameron WATSON, 26.Joe KEENAN, 29.Bradley NORTON, 30.Nick MUNRO (gk) *one to be omitted*
In: Fabian BARBIERO (return from injury), Bradley NORTON (promoted from NYL)
Out: Marcos FLORES (hamstring – 2 weeks)
Unavailable: Mathew LECKIE (international duty), Mark BIRIGHITTI (international duty), Nigel BOOGAARD (ankle – 4 weeks), Lloyd OWUSU (knee – indefinite)