Along with a host of other regular first team players, Djulbic was absent from Wednesday night's loss to North Queensland Fury, but returns to action against the Heart after serving his one-match suspension.

The towering centre-back has been in top form all season and can't wait to get back on the field as United look to snap out of their malaise.

"I'm really looking forward to getting back out there this Sunday, I'm not a good spectator at the best of times, but I found it particularly hard on Wednesday," Djulbic said.

"It's important that we get a good result on Sunday and to do so we have to make sure we are well organised - that has to be our first priority.

"We know if we keep our discipline and shape we can keep the opposition out and score ourselves - we've proved that this season.

"Any team would struggle with the sheer number of first team players we had missing against the Fury.

"I felt sorry for Miron because the backbone of the team was absent, along with several others; that's never going to be easy to deal with and he had to bring youngsters in and play people in unfamiliar positions.

"But this season is far from a foregone conclusion - we're only just over half way through and nobody here thinks the title is a two horse race.

"There are a lot of games to play and a lot of points to play for and anything can happen from here. To assume that the top two will keep winning every week until the end of the season is a big call to make. Injuries happen, suspensions happen, form can dip - all sorts of things."

Gold Coast expect to be bolstered further by the return of James Brown from his one-match ban, and subject to fitness tests, United could see Jason Culina (knee), John Curtis (hamstring) and Tahj Minniecon (toe) all return from injury.

Goalkeeper Glen Moss (ankle) and vice-captain Michael Thwaite (ankle) also remain an outside chance to making their comebacks.

Coach Miron Bleiberg said he and his troops have re-focussed after Wednesday's disappointing loss and are determined to take away the necessary lessons and get on with the job.

"The defeat against Fury was disappointing and a bit of a slap in the face, but sometimes you have to take a step back in order to go forward and we are certainly looking forward," said the United boss.

"There are always lessons to be learned and that's the way we have to look at Wednesday night. The good thing for us is that our next game is coming around quickly as all the players want to get back out there and prove a point.

"We realise where we are at the moment and what has to be done, so we will concentrate on accumulating as many points as we can.

"Up to a week ago we were going along nicely and the injuries hit us hard, but we can get back on track starting with our game on Sunday.

"Sometimes when you have a slump defeats can come in clusters so we just have to make sure that we stop the rot at two defeats.

"Every team will suffer slumps; every team will suffer loss of players for one reason or another. Hopefully our slump is over."