Overseas ambitions, dumped deals and undoubtedly a lack of on-field success have seen United delay contract negotiations with some of its key players.

Vice captain Lucas Pantelis, experienced midfielder Paul Reid and talented defender Scott Jamieson have all been offered contract extensions during the season but are yet to confirm their futures are at Hindmarsh Stadium.

Jamieson, who was part of the Socceroos' travelling party to Kuwait, was set to trial with a Belgium club this week but that plan didn't eventuate.

Instead the left back will sit on the bench for Adelaide when they tackle Gold Coast on Saturday night with Cassio to regain the left back position.

Reds coach Aurelio Vidmar was keen to retain the services of the 21-year-old but was realistic about where his future may lie.

"His heart is set on going overseas and we know that and there was an opportunity for him a couple of days ago and that fell through so that's the way it is," Vidmar said.

"It's not unsettling (for him to seek out other clubs) because we've still got enough players in the squad that can cover."

Reid has had a horror year with injuries but remains in the Reds' good books given the team normally wins when he's fit and firing in the midfield. Reid is trying to regain fitness after injuring his groin against Brisbane last month and will hopefully return to Hindmarsh Stadium next season if Vidmar has his way.

"At this stage there has been no pen put to paper, discussions are still ongoing. Everything in a way has stopped because we did have a deal for him there a little while ago but he obviously had another clause in his existing contract and we'll just have to wait and see now," Vidmar said.

"But we are not going to be in a hurry to sign or re-sign anyone at this stage."

Vidmar said Reid still had a bright future ahead despite his lack of input in the first half of 2009-10.

"He's still young, 30 years old, just turned 30 and he's having a tough time with injuries but he's going to have a run with the Youth League on Sunday and then I'm sure he'll put his hand up against Central Coast."

Pantelis' future at the club is less certain with his manager admitting there were other teams keen to secure his services.

"There's no saga with Lucas Pantelis, we offered him a contract quite a while ago ...so those negotiations have stalled and once again he's in the same situation as Reidy and a few others that we won't be doing anything for the moment," Vidmar said.

Five points away from sixth spot, Vidmar knows time is running out and how crucial three points is for his team, both in terms of the A-League table and also for the squad's confidence heading into the rest of the season.

"I don't think we've got too many more lives left so it's a crucial game for us," Vidmar said.

"We'll go out there with a positive frame of mind, I think the little rest that we've had has done us the world of good and we've looked quite sharp and very enthusiastic over the last few days, so I'm really pleased with the week's training and now we need to go out there and perform."

Influential midfielder Paul Reid is available following his latest injury setback, but Vidmar has opted to give the 30 year old a run in the National Youth League, while Brazilian utility Alemao is out with a hip injury he suffered in the loss to Sydney FC.

Goalkeeper Eugene Galekovic and defender Scott Jamieson will meet up with the rest of the squad on the Gold Coast after returning from Socceroos duty in Kuwait mid week and are expected to be read to play on Saturday.

Goals have been hard to come by for the Reds this season, Vidmar admitting his attacking players would need to start finding the back of the net to help Adelaide make a winning start to 2010. 

"There have not been too many (goals) coming in this season, we know that, so hopefully Cristiano can bag a couple, and (Mathew) Leckie, Travis (Dodd) and Lucas (Pantelis) are all players that can potentially score goals so we'll be relying heavily on those boys."

But United's task is set to be easier said than done, with it to be the first time the Reds have played at Skilled Park, while Gold Coast United is aiming to make it six wins in a row at home.

Gold Coast striker Shane Smeltz is also in scintillating form, the league's top scorer coming off a hat trick against Brisbane Roar, but Vidmar firmly believes the Reds' defence can keep the New Zealand international quiet, just as it did when the sides last met back in Round 15.

"We know the situation that we're in. It's certainly going to be a tough game, they're coming off a fantastic win against Brisbane, so it's going to be a big challenge for us but one that I think we can handle," Vidmar said.

"He (Smeltz) is a very good goal scorer, a very good player and someone hard to stop, but I think last time (Mark) Rudan and (Iain) Fyfe did a pretty good job on him."

A win is all Vidmar has on his mind as the squad heads to the Gold Coast, and he refuses to get drawn into looking any further than Saturday's result and how his side will be sitting at the end of Round 22.

"All we can do is really focus hard on trying to win the game. If we do win that's great, it gives us another chance, if not we'll sit back and reassess where we're at," Vidmar added