Adelaide United coach John Kosmina has stressed the importance of finishing top of their AFC Champions League group.
The Reds travel to Japan knowing victory over Gamba Osaka at the Osaka Expo 70 Stadium would seal top spot in the group and a home match at Hindmarsh Stadium in the round-of-16 on May 29.
Adelaide is perched at the top of Group E on 10 points and is assured of a place in the knockout phase regardless of the outcome of Wednesday s other group clash between three-time Champions League winners Pohang Steelers and reigning Uzbekistan champions Bunyodkor.
Pohang sits in second with nine points, needing just a draw to qualify, while a win would see Bunyodkor leap the South Korean giants into second and snatch a place in the next round.
Bottom-placed Gamba welcomes Adelaide with nothing to play for, given they are unable to progress to the next stage after winning just once in continental competition.
Although the focus has shifted to the domestic J-League campaign for Gamba, Kosmina expects the 2008 ACL champions to put up a determined fight against his Reds outfit.
It s super important that we get a result there (Japan) to get the (second round) game here at Hindmarsh and give us every chance of making the quarter-final, Kosmina said.
Gamba are a good side with a lot of respect in Asia so they are not going to come out next Wednesday night and play to lose no professional team does.
We have to go there in the frame of mind that we need to get a result. It doesn t matter that we ve already qualified.
Despite three points being the objective against what is expected to be a weakened Gamba, Kosmina said he would not risk altering his tactics to an all-out attack on the Japanese side.
The former Sydney FC coach said he would rather stick to the game plan that has been so far successful for the Reds.
We will play the game we ve been playing, Kosmina said.
We have been creating more and more opportunities as each game has gone on, certainly in the last two at home we ve made some good chances.
From that perspective we ll go there and play the game we are comfortable with.
Adelaide has made only one change to the squad that was held to a scoreless draw by Bunyodkor on May 2, with defender Iain Fyfe replacing holding midfielder Osama Malik, who suffered a knee injury in the stalemate.
Sergio van Dijk could force his way into the starting XI but Kosmina said he was reluctant to include the Dutchman given the fine form fellow striker Bruce Djite has shown as the lone forward.
I m still tossing up about Serge and Bruce because both trained well this week it s a hard call, Kosmina said.
