Reid is ready to go against the Mariners after recovering from a knock to the head which saw him substituted early in Wednesday's loss to Perth Glory courtesy of an accidental elbow from Iain Fyfe.

"I actually didn't realise it was Fyfey's elbow, I just remember hitting an elbow and falling to the ground," Reid said of the incident.

"I was seeing a few stars for awhile and it was a bit vague after that but I'll be right for the game."

The experienced central midfielder is determined to help United get back on the right track after consecutive losses left the Reds just four points in front of the Central Coast on the table, although the Mariners have two games in hand.

This makes Sunday's clash a crucial one in the context of whether Adelaide can tighten its grip on securing a place in the top two, and Reid knows it.

"We've lost two on the trot now so we have to get the three points, there's no point going there for just a point," Reid said.

"It's a big game for us, if we can win we'll go seven points clear of them and they'll have two games in hand, so it is a massive game for us. We can't make excuses, we've got the games coming up so we've just got to get as many points as possible."

Reid's comments come after the Reds were beaten by a more desperate Perth midweek, and the capped Socceroo is fully aware that United must regroup and show a stronger resilience and attitude on Sunday to have a chance of getting past the Mariners.

But securing a win in Gosford it easier said than done.

The Reds will train on Christmas morning before and fly out for Sydney in the afternoon before boarding a bus to Gosford for the match.

While Reid knows it is not the ideal scenario, he says the way the Reds handle the situation will have a significant bearing on whether they can return with an invaluable three points.

"I guess it's always difficult when you play over the Christmas period," Reid said.

"Everyone else is celebrating Christmas and spending time with their families, but we've just got to get out there and make sure we have got our minds set on the job at hand and be switched on mentally.

"That's going to be one of the key factors to us getting the results over the Christmas and New Year period."

Reid is no stranger to a hectic schedule over the festive period having spent six years playing in England, a country renowned for its heavily stacked Christmas football program.

But instead of looking at it in a negative light, Reid says the Reds' next three games in a short space of time provides an opportunity for Adelaide to cement second spot.

"I think there was a period where we played on the 21st of December, then on Boxing Day, then the 29th and even sometimes again on New Year's Day," Reid recalls of his days with Bradford City and Brighton & Hove Albion.

"I haven't done that for a few years and this is a difficult period for us, we've got to be mentally strong enough to get through it.

"Other teams have done it this year, and we haven't started this period off well, but it's a massive game against the Mariners and if we can win that, it'll hold us in that second position."

The match with the Mariners could prove to have added significance one Reds player in particular. With Robert Cornthwaite suspended, Nigel Boogaard is in line to make a memorable return to the Reds' starting eleven against his former side for the first time since leaving Gosford to join Adelaide at the end of last season.

Boogaard is ready to take up a spot alongside Fyfe in the centre of defence, and he will not be doing his former side any favours as he looks to dry up the Mariners' goal scoring chances.

After leaking six goals in their past two games, Reid knows the Reds must be stingier all over the field, especially against a Mariners outfit that is starting to hit some ominous form at home.

"We have conceded too many goals of late, but we've just got to be tighter all over the park," Reid said.

"The Central Coast have been in some good form so we've got to work as a unit, be tight and then take our chances when they come."