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Adelaide United defender Michael Marrone believes the 2018/19 Reds team has the same winning mentality as the 2016 A-League grand final winners.

The playing style is different but Adelaide United grand final-winning defender Michael Marrone says the mentality is the same in this year's squad to the 2016 A-League champions.

The Reds will host Melbourne City on Sunday in the second elimination final on the back of a five-game unbeaten run.

Marrone was a member of the Adelaide team which beat Western Sydney 3-1 in the 2016 grand final, a win that came after a 4-1 semi-final demolition of City the week before.

"We're playing very different to how we played during that winning year but we still have a really good core group and a good winning mentality," Marrone said.

"Having a home final is such a big advantage, especially in a one-off game.

"We're a chance against Melbourne City because we're going to compete. I'm sure they're going to compete. It can be such little things in a final (but) the home final is such a big advantage."

Goalkeeper Eugene Galekovic and defender Iacopo La Rocca were both teammates of Marrone in that grand final win but will be on the opposite side this Sunday.

The 32-year-old didn't however believe facing old teammates would provide extra incentive to either team in the do-or-die clash.

"Once they're out I don't think of them as Adelaide United players any more," he said.

"It's the A-League as well, a lot of players move around.

"In a one-off game it just matters how you approach it and what sort of form you're in and the players available.

"We're lucky enough to be in good form and we've got a lot of players available."