The harboursiders head into Saturday’s match against reigning Premiers Central Coast Mariners sitting fifth on the table after notching up back-to-back wins.

And while Reid said their football was sometimes difficult to watch, the team knew that five rounds in, they have yet to hit their straps.

Sydney were outplayed for much of last weekend’s match against Perth Glory until the visitors went down to 10-men and the 33-year-old admits they will have to do much better to crack a well-organised Mariners outfit at Bluetongue.

“I think a lot of teams have got improvement but I watched our game (against Perth) again and we were probably playing at 60 to 70 per cent of what we can do,” Reid said.

“It was quite hard to watch it back – at times you wonder what were we thinking in those certain instances.

“But to come away with a win when you know you can play so much better is a massive bonus for us.

“We actually said it to each other after the game, we can play a whole lot better, but obviously the positive thing out of it is that we got the three points.

“It’s always good to win a game when you don’t play as well as you can and it means the boys are showing a bit of character.

“Everyone’s made a big point that a lot of the team were new this season as well – I think that plays a major part as well.

“There are a lot of new players and everyone’s trying to get used to everyone – obviously you want to be gelling with each other as soon as possible in the season.

“We haven’t quite done that yet but we’ve put ourselves in a decent position on the table and we’re playing nowhere near our best.

“Of all the teams in the league we’re probably one of the ones that have got the most improvement to come in the way we play. We’ve got a lot more to show.”

Reid himself, who has been marshalling midfield since the benching of skipper Terry McFlynn, has only played two 90 minute games in the past four months. Just two months ago he returned from overseas certain that his professional career was over.

But the departure of Nicky Carle and arrival of Alessandro Del Piero suddenly opened up space for a home-grown centre-mid and Reid fitted the bill perfectly.

“It’s funny how things happen in football,” the Sydney-born player said.

“People have to realise I came back from Thailand mid-September with the A-League starting in three to four weeks’ time.

“Everyone had signed all their players, I’d contacted people myself and they’d either signed all their players or they weren’t looking for anyone in my position. Sometimes reality hits you.

"Then this opportunity came up with Sydney and it was just too good to turn down.”

Reid earned a one-year contract with the Sky Blues but with a good season under his belt feels he could easily extend his playing career for a few more years, hopefully in his home town.

After a well-travelled career starting with the Wollongong Wolves in the old NSL followed by six seasons in England, the former Adelaide United player says he is in a “good space at the moment”.

“I’m 33, I go to training and I play the game to enjoy myself now,” he said. “That’s what I try and tell the youngsters now, every game you’ve got to enjoy. That’s what I do now.

“Obviously I put pressure on myself to perform but when you’re younger, sometimes the pressure gets to people and you don’t enjoy occasions like you should.

“I’ve obviously played in big games, in grand finals in the NSL, and played in big games in England, but sometimes it passes you by and you don’t actually enjoy the moment.

“I actually play better when I just say to myself – just go out and do what you know you can do and enjoy yourself.

"And I’ve done that over the last four or five years and I look back now and think, I should have been doing this my whole career.”