STAR striker Sergio van Dijk says he's happy to start on the bench as long as Adelaide continues its winning ways.

Van Dijk was the hero in Adelaide's 2-0 over Gamba Osaka on Wednesday, scoring the winner just six minutes after coming off the bench in the second half.

It booked the Reds a home knockout final in the round of 16 against Socceroo Josh Kennedy's Nagoya Grampus on May 29. Van Dijk, the A-League's leading scorer in 2010-11, has lost his spot up front as the Reds adopt a sole striker and defensive formation.

And while he may have claims to be reinstated in coach John Kosmina's starting line-up, van Dijk said it was team first, him second.

"At the start I was obviously disappointed to be a sub," he said.

"But the way we play, more defensive with one striker, someone has to sit out and Brucey (Djite) has done well so in the end I had to accept it and work hard to get back.

"Sometimes that's the life of a footballer, but we are professional and we have to handle those situations.

"I'm especially happy we had a win against a good side, and that I scored a goal is just an extra."

Van Dijk said he wasn't tempted to talk Kosmina into starting two strikers at Hindmarsh on May 29.

"It's hard because the way we played before also got us points, so to say `let's play with two strikers' isn't that easy," he said.

"Because that has to change the mindset of the team as well and I don't know if that's the easiest thing to do."

The Reds are due to return to Adelaide this morning after topping Group E.

Van Dijk said it was a very different feeling to the one that plagued the side during a tough A-League season.

"A couple of months ago we weren't even in the Champions League and suddenly you get a chance to play, then finish on top of the group and everyone is happy," he said.

"This is a totally different feeling than what we had during our A-League season."

The Dutchman has urged United fans to turn out in force when Kennedy's Nagoya Grampus hits town.

"It's going to be really big, a one-off game and all or nothing," he said. "So I expect a lot of people in Adelaide if they want to come and support us and get us through to the next round."