Craig Goodwin is well aware Friday night’s clash against Perth Glory will be an extremely hard-fought contest at Coopers Stadium.
Both sides are rested after a week off due to the split round, as Adelaide United battle the ladder leaders, who are currently 12 games unbeaten.
Contrastingly, Marco Kurz’s men are four matches without a win.
Goodwin attributed that form to a few things before revealing two key Reds are available for selection.
“Probably a bit of bad luck,” Goodwin explained to reporters when asked about their winless streak.
“Obviously we’ve had a few injuries and in key areas as well so in the last game (against Sydney) we had no centre-backs and had to readjust.
“But I think Niko (Nikola Mileusnić) and Jako (Michael Jakobsen) will be back and a few other boys are close to returning.
“So at home against Perth it’s a great chance for us to stop that run of no wins, but it’s going to be a tough game.”
The 27-year-old, who has bagged nine league goals, suggested taking the lead will be crucial to have success against the stingiest defence in the competition.
“I think scoring first will certainly help,” he replied.
“I think the games where they’ve conceded first, it’s opened them up a bit.
“I think they’re a team that’s defensively very well structured, so if we can score first against them and force them to have to come further up the pitch it’ll work well in our favour.”
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The Reds have struggled to find the back of the net with consistency this campaign, and have scored just two goals in their past four games.
Goodwin said he hoped he could help solve their scoring problems along with his fellow forwards.
“Hopefully myself, I can put a couple away,” he said.
“But I think Jordy (Thomassen) has been good in training and hopefully he’ll start to bang some in and with Niko back he’s got four (goals).
“So I think we can score goals and we’ve been creating chances, it’s about being more clinical in the final third.
“But I think we just have to focus on our individual roles and our duties, and carry that out and as a team we’ll be able to create chances.”
He was also confident that once Jordy Thomassen scores his first goal the floodgates will open, and drew comparisons to Bruce Djite’s prolific second-half of the 2015/16 season after a lengthy goal drought.
“I think a couple of seasons ago we had a similar situation where Bruce (Djite) hadn’t scored in a few games,” he continued.
“And then he got one and ended up finishing with 11 for the season in the second half and he killed it.
“So I think if Jordy can get one he’ll certainly pop up with a few more.”
Adelaide United host Perth in Round 22 of the Hyundai A-League 2018/19 season on Friday, 15 March at Coopers Stadium. Kick-off is at 7.20pm ACDT. Gates open 6.20pm.
