![](https://syndicates.s3.amazonaws.com/aap/Soc_ALM_AdUtd_4-3_23978062_2149358_20230414160424a1362f78-3136-413b-87be-8e21442099a1_sd_800x600.jpg)
Melbourne City might have one hand on the premiers plate but Adelaide United have the belief they can also claim A-League Men silverware this season and beyond.
The Reds have gone 12 games unbeaten ahead of Sunday's home clash with Western United at Coopers Stadium.
Adelaide (41 points) are seven points and goal difference behind leaders City (48) and have a four-point buffer on Central Coast with three games to go and will hope to claim a top-two spot.
"Especially over the last two seasons, playing in two semi-finals, we know that we have a squad that can be extremely competitive," goalkeeper Joe Gauci said.
"We've shown that this year and being in that second spot now and trying to solidify that over the next three weeks, we've shown we can beat anyone.
"It's been an unbelievable year but this is the crunch time now. We're really hoping that we can push on and do something special.
"That's the main goal (long-term success). That will start with silverware this year.
"Hopefully we can build from a really strong year this year, hopefully silverware, into something that can really be a competitive team over the next two-to-three years."
Reigning champions Western United sit 10th but just three points and goal difference outside the finals places.
"The A-League's been so close this year and it's fantastic to see every team has something to play for late in the season," Gauci said.
"They've been in good form and now they can potentially play finals football
"So they're going to come here, they're going to be attacking but on their day we know when they get it right they're also very hard to score against and we saw that last year with how many clean sheets they kept.
"They've pretty much got the same squad from last year. So on their day when they get it right, they're hard to beat.
"But we're at home, we're playing at Coopers in front of our fantastic fans so we're hoping we can put a few past them."