Marco Kurz says the team is excited and looking forward to the challenge of playing against Melbourne Victory when the Original Rivalry returns on Saturday night.
The Reds are currently on a two-match winning streak, while Victory have won their past four games.
Kurz said the stifling weather conditions in Adelaide the last couple of days has made preparing for this clash a little more difficult.
“It’s a special game for all of us,” Kurz told reporters.
“I’m looking forward to this game but the preparation was not so easy because the weather was very hot and difficult to train our full exercises.
“But we started training an hour earlier and I think the boys are looking good and everyone knows what happens in Melbourne if you play against Victory.”
Kurz reiterated he is well aware of the enormity of the rivalry and hopes to give Reds fans an early Christmas present with a triumph.
“I think I said it last season,” he said.
“The first I heard was how important it is to win away in Victory for our supporters and we’ll do our best to give them maybe an earlier Christmas present.
“We feel the rivalry and I think both teams are in good positions on the ladder and will fight for their positions.
“It’s second against fourth and I hope we can play a very good game and we can bring home the three points back to Adelaide.”
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The German tactician was delighted to confirm defender, Michael Jakobsen, had been declared fit to start the game after he resumed full training late last week.
“Jako was back last week in the last session for full training,” he stated.
“And this week he trained without problems and he’s ready to start and it’s good for us after the yellow/red card for Taylor (Regan).”
When quizzed if Jakobsen’s prior experience of playing in a Melbourne Derby with Melbourne City would benefit United for the game, Kurz suggested it can only help.
“I’m not sure, but Jako is a professional player,” he said.
“He’s for me a key player and an organiser in the back-line and maybe it’s a special game for him but now he’s an Adelaide boy.”
With Victory in scintillating form and playing at home, Kurz believed his side are the underdogs, though insisted they are more than capable of beating Kevin Muscat’s team.
“I think we’re not the favourite in this game, but we saw last year we can beat them,” he said.
“We beat them last season twice in the FFA Cup and the away game with nine players and I think on a good day we can beat every team in the league.”
Adelaide United face Melbourne Victory in Round 7 of the Hyundai A-League 2018/19 season on Saturday, 8 December at Marvel Stadium. Kick-off is at 7.20pm ACDT. Live on Fox Sports, and 10 Boss and streamed on the My Football Live App.
