United enter the first match of the final third of the campaign minus skipper Jason Culina (international duty) and vice-captain Michael Thwaite (suspended), but Bleiberg says Gold Coast will be hungry enough to cover for the loss of two key members of the squad.

"We are entering the final phase of the season and it's about now that teams start to get desperate," Bleiberg said.

"We have that desperation because we want to do well and every team we play from now on will know how desperate we are.

"Jason and Michael's absence will give a chance to the likes of Robson and Steve Pantelidis to step in and do well for the team.

"Up front we have plenty to choose from and there is a lot of competition for places in the forward line.

"We certainly have to win our game on Monday if we are to achieve our aim of finishing in the top two.

"Our draw away last week against the Roar might be seen as a good result, but at home nothing less than a win is good enough.

"There isn't a team in the Hyundai A-League that we should feel we can't beat at Skilled Park.

"Perth will be in good spirits after beating Adelaide in their last match and there is no doubt they will present a challenge, but everyone knows they don't travel particularly well and we have to take advantage.

"Our next few games, including Perth on Monday, will decide whether we are in the running for top two or fighting to make sure we're in the top four or five. It's a very important game and now is the time to get the points."

Despite finishing third in last season's competition, Gold Coast went out of the Finals Series at the first hurdle, losing to Newcastle Jets on penalties.

It was a match that brought home the importance of landing second place on the table, triggering a second bite at the finals cherry.

But Gold Coast's run home is an unenviable one with their final four games squeezed into ten action-packed days.

However, rather than a feeling a sense of trepidation, Bleiberg is licking his lips with the belief his side has the quality to push all the way for the coveted top two.

Bleiberg continued: "I'm looking forward to it - that's the way the season is going to finish and it's a real challenge.

"We have the experience and we have the depth to cope with that. I would like to think we are smarter this year than last.

"That's the beauty of this part of the season because games appear to be more important. It's called the ‘business end' for a reason.

"It's the final ten rounds of the campaign and we want as many points as possible so we can compete well in the Finals Series.

"We learned a lesson last year - we fought right to the end to finish second and ended up third. It mattered little when we got the finals because we went out on penalties in the first game.

"So this year we know how important it is to make sure we get that second place on the ladder. Finishing third and being 15 points ahead of sixth place translates to nothing when it comes to finals football."