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Melbourne City is the sole team Adelaide United coach Marco Kurz has yet to beat in his time in the A-League - and his opponent in Sunday's elimination final.

You hardly accuse Melbourne City of not understanding their A-League finals' opponents.

Warren Joyce's side arrive at Coopers Stadium with plenty of ex-Adelaide United players in their ranks for today's elimination final.

Eugene Galekovic (2007-2017) is the obvious link, spending a decade in goal for the club and helping the Reds win their inaugural championship in 2016.

Iacopo La Rocca (2015-17) is also a United title-winner.

Scott Jamieson (2008-10), Riley McGree (2014-17), Dario Vidosic (2011-13), Rostyn Griffiths (2008-09) and Mark Birighitti (2008-12) have also plied their trade for Adelaide.

Assistant coach Tony Vidmar, with 76 Socceroos caps, is also one of South Australian football's favourite sons, but was only briefly a youth team coach at the club a decade ago.

Perhaps that's why Joyce has the wood over this opposing number, Marco Kurz, who leaves United at season's end after failing to agree a contract extension.

The German has a record of three losses - including two in Adelaide - and three draws against City, who are the only A-League club he's not managed to beat in his two seasons. While he hasn't steered the Reds to a league win over Sydney FC, the Reds memorably triumphed in last November's FFA Cup final.

While Adelaide have amassed more trophies than City, the club is run on a fraction of the budget that the Manchester City-aligned expansion project is allowed.

Galekovic, who could retire at season's end and take up a goalkeeping coaches role back at Adelaide, admitted the contest was something of a David against Goliath struggle.

"Us back in the day, 2016, when we won it, we were quite a small club," he said.

"That's the nature of the A-League. Central Coast have won a few (trophies) and you know they've always been classified as a small club.

"That's just the nature of it, but you know it's not about how much money your club has. It's about how strong the playing group is.

"As a playing group here we're really united to achieve something special."

The match is delicately poised.

Adelaide have home ground advantage and superior form; City have their head-to-head edge and a deeper squad led by Socceroos striker Jamie Maclaren.

Galekovic said "history doesn't really matter".

"It's a one-off game, it's a final and whoever loses to them is out. Finals games are whoever performs on a day."