United's preparations for the match were thrown a curved ball earlier this week with a flu-like virus laying  Miller and Minniecon low for two days, with striker Smeltz also displaying milder symptoms.

Miller and Minniecon both completed half of Wednesday's training session and are expected to train fully this afternoon (Thursday), as is Smeltz, who stayed away from the rest of the group to prevent further spread of the illness.

United know that nothing less than three points against league leaders Melbourne Victory will do when the two sides go head to head at Skilled Park.

Gold Coast are unbeaten in their last six matches and Melbourne have registered wins in each of their last three outings, including the 4-0 demolition of Wellington Phoenix on Australia Day.

With both teams in good form, three vital points at stake and the Skilled Park surface in immaculate condition, the match promises to be one on the headline games of the season.

Gold Coast assistant coach Paul Okon  is expecting a tight encounter against the reigning champions and believes Victory will be fresh for the challenge, despite having to play their third game in just six days. 

"They rested some key players for their win against Wellington on Tuesday and got a fantastic result, so they will come here full of confidence. It would be foolish of anyone to think that Melbourne will be coming here tired the way that Newcastle were recently," Okon said

"It will probably be a tactical battle on Friday night. Melbourne have a lot of mobile players who know their system very well and we have to make sure we play as a team. If we do that we certainly have the players who can get goals at any time during a game.

"It's a massive game and everyone will be up for it. Melbourne have everything to play for and so do we. They've beaten us twice this season so if we can get one over them before we head into the Finals Series then it would do us the world of good psychologically."

Despite slipping to third place on the ladder, three points adrift of Victory with three rounds remaining, Okon says United are still very much in the mix for premiership honours, but nothing less than a win against Ernie Merrick's outfit will do.

"There are nine points to play for and if we can take all nine points then we have a very good chance of finishing the season on the top of the ladder," he added.

"It's a three-horse race now for both the title and the top two spots on the ladder. We want to finish as high as we can to give ourselves the best chance of making it to the Grand Final, but we literally have to take it one game at a time."