Declaring the season a relative success so far, Porter said the playing group was now fully focused on a successful finals campaign.

"We've done okay to finish third in our first season but the job is not finished by a long way. Now we want to make it to the Grand Final and win it," Porter said.

"Finals football is always tough and we have to push ourselves. We know what we have to do on Saturday and we know what Newcastle are all about.

"They'll get stuck in and despite missing a few key players the ones who come in will do a good job for them. Newcastle have been in finals before and will know what it's all about. It's our first year but hopefully on the day we can step up and use the experience we have in our team.

"Our focus has to be on our game and playing to the best of our ability. If we do that then there's no reason why we can't get the right result."

With the benefit of a home semi-final, the Gold Coast striker wants fans of all sports to rally behind the club and get along to Skilled Park to create the kind of atmosphere that only finals matches can generate.

"The Gold Coast is a great city and the people here love their sport," Porter said. "Hopefully, with it being finals time the general public on the Coast will come out and support their local team in what is going to be a cracking game.

"Finals matches are always great events with lots of excitement and tension. This is what sport is all about so naturally we want to encourage as many people as possible to come along and help us do the Gold Coast proud.

"A big crowd behind you can make such a difference in games like this. They often call it a twelfth man and that's exactly what it's like."

Boss Miron Bleiberg insists the form book goes out of the window this weekend when United face the Jets.

United go into the game on the back of two narrow defeats, with the Jets faring worse than their opponents, having lost their last four outings.

But Bleiberg says the statistics will count for nothing this Saturday, instead citing the squad depth of each club as the critical factor.

"Every team knows each other's capabilities, strengths and weaknesses at this stage of the season and, as ever, the Hyundai A-League is very evenly matched," Bleiberg said.

"I believe one of the major factors for success in the finals is the personnel you have available on the day. From this point of view, thanks to lady luck and the skills of our medical and fitness staff, we are in a good position and apart from one or two absentees we have a strong squad to choose from.

"We have lost our last two games but if we win this weekend against Newcastle no-one will remember that or be talking about it. It's this week that counts.

"Our players believe we can beat anyone on our day and that's the attitude we have to take into the Finals Series. Every game is do-or-die so we have to fear no-one."

The United boss conceded that an element of disappointment had clouded the last fortnight as his fledgling outfit watched their Premiership hopes fade, but was quick to add that the excitement of competing in the finals series in their first year had lifted the players.

"We've worked hard all season to try and win the Premiership or finish in second place, but we've finished third and that's what we have to deal with and focus on," said Bleiberg.

"In this beautiful country of Australia it's the Grand Final that counts so motivation for the players is easy. They know what is required and I'm confident we can do well in the finals - everyone is looking forward to Saturday's game."