A PLACE in the 2009/10 National Youth League Finals Series is up for grabs this Sunday when Gold Coast United Youth face Adelaide United Youth at Hindmarsh Stadium (kick off 2.30pm Qld time).

Three points will guarantee Mike Mulvey’s men third place, and a Finals spot in their first season, after an emphatic and rain-soaked 5-0 triumph over the AIS last weekend put United fourth on the ladder.

But Gold Coast’s finals charge could get a helping hand from current leaders Central Coast Mariners who go head-to-head with fifth-placed Sydney FC Youth on Saturday afternoon.

Victory for the Mariners will oust Sydney from finals contention and cement fourth place for Gold Coast, but Mulvey says his side will approach the Adelaide encounter in the same way, regardless of the result in the Sydney/Mariners clash.

“We will go into the game with the positive approach we always take to our matches,” Mulvey said.

“All season we have encouraged our players to enjoy their football and play in an open, attacking style.

“There is a superb spirit in this group of players that has been built over the course of the season and that is a great testament to the lads themselves.

“They take great pride in what they do and how they represent Gold Coast United.”

After recording four consecutive draws prior to last weekend’s match versus the AIS, United returned to winning ways against the Canberra-based outfit with a comfortable 5-0 victory, even though the match was abandoned on the hour mark due to a heavy downpour that began to flood areas of the pitch.

But Gold Coast had done more than enough in 60 minutes of one-sided action to warrant the points, with Mulvey admitting he would have liked to have seen the game completed to give international hopefuls some added experience of ‘Asian conditions’.

“I was actually a bit disappointed that the game was abandoned because there were a number of players on the field who will represent Australia at under 17 or under 20 level in the near future and the conditions were similar to what can occur in Asia. It could’ve been a good learning experience for those youngsters,” he said.

“However, in very wet conditions we played some terrific football and came away with a very good result which has set us up nicely for this weekend.”

Gold Coast will again be without powerful defender Zac Anderson, who needs another week to fully recover from the hip injury that sidelined him last week.

First teamers James Brown and Tahj Minniecon are both expected to travel however, as is Brazilian midfielder Robson who is still fresh after his senior campaign was limited due to a string of frustrating injuries.

NYL Finals Series format

The format of the National Youth League Finals Series is a simple one. The top four teams qualify with first playing fourth and second taking on third in a sudden death play-off; the two winners progress to the Grand Final.

Given that they cannot finish higher than third place regardless of other round 27 results, if United do make the four their semi-final will be an away match against either Central Coast Mariners Youth or Perth Glory Youth on the weekend of 13/14 March.