Mark Rudan's side left it late, but six wins from their last eight matches leave the A-League expansion club ripe for serious contention in their first finals campaign.

At the heart of the club's success has been a veteran guard highlighted by Alex Tobin medallist and former Italian superstar Alessandro Diamanti and one of the most prolific A-League goalscorers of all time, Besart Berisha.

Berisha's 19 goals at 35 years old left him third in the golden boot standings, only missing out to Adam Le Fondre's 20 and Jamie Maclaren's 22.

“I love finals. I’m very excited...when I hear finals my heart is beating,” Berisha told Fox Sports.

“I want to play every game and I’m looking forward to the finals.

“They are special. I missed them in my one year away and I’m so happy to be back and to go to the finals.”

Asked about the magnitude of United’s achievement of finishing fifth in their debut campaign, Berisha said: “What a story it is.

“I think we’ve had an unbelievable season. It’s credit to the staff, the club, the players.

“They’ve tried so hard to be a professional club and as a player I’m very proud to be here and to share this story.

“Hopefully we can keep pushing and make something special.”