The Reds have a chance to put a 17 point gap between themselves and the best team of last season with a win, United closing in on the Central Coast Mariners' record of 12 consecutive A-League matches undefeated. United's run, which includes the club's final two games of last season, currently stands at 10.

Sydney's predicament, coupled with United flying high at the top of the ladder without a loss in the season's opening two months, has 'danger game' written all over it for the Reds.

But despite the sense that Sydney FC has to break through for a victory eventually, United Head Coach Rini Coolen has his charges focused to ensure it is not the Reds on the receiving end.

"They (Sydney FC) have a few other players now in their team so it will probably be a little bit different...it will not be easy but we'll see how it goes tomorrow," Coolen said.

"They have a lot of quality players, but we don't want to change our system, especially defensively, we just need to play our own game and see if we can make the difference ourselves."

The Reds went a way to arresting their poor record at the Sydney Football Stadium, after recording a comprehensive 3-1 win over the reigning champions back in Week 5.

In a boost for the Reds, Travis Dodd has been included in the squad for the first time since undergoing off season groin surgery, the captain's first appearance of the season set to be off the bench.

Cassio returns to the line up after serving a one match suspension, and Daniel Mullen has also been named in the squad after returning from Olyroos duty, while United will be without the league's co-leading goal scorer Mathew Leckie, as well as reserve goalkeeper Mark Birighitti, who are both away with the Qantas Young Socceroos.

"Leckie is a strong player, a fast player, so he is important for our team, but we can also play without Leckie, that's what I saw in our training sessions...so there will be a few things different in our details but not so much in the way we play," Coolen answered on whether the 19 year old's absence would affect the side's dynamics.

Striker Sergio van Dijk opened his Hyundai A-League goal scoring account for the Reds in emphatic fashion with a double when the teams last met, and with United being without Leckie, the Dutchman will again carry the expectations of finding the back of the net.