A MEETING of supporters and potential investors has Gold Coast United players and staff clinging to hope the team could remain in the A-League next season.

Gold Coast United interim coach Mike Mulvey was sketchy about the specifics of the meeting at Griffith University last night but said a number of players planned to attend to show their support.

FFA has remained coy over whether it will seek new investors for next season and persist with a team on the Gold Coast, but coach Mike Mulvey and skipper Michael Thwaite hope there may still be a future for the team.

"I hear there are some businessmen out there putting some big money on the table already . . . there needs to be a professional soccer team on the Gold Coast because it's such a lovely city and the players want to be here," Thwaite said.

Gold Coast United youngsters Zac Anderson and Chris Harold, and Brisbane's Nick Fitzgerald are among 10 new names in the Olyroos for next week's dead qualifying rubber against Iraq in Gosford.

The under-23s cannot qualify for the Games but want to avoid the embarrassment of finishing last in the group.

Brisbane Roar captain Matt Smith expects an onslaught from the more polished of Adelaide's split personalities at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday.

Adelaide United turned around their rotten A-League form with a sparkling display in a 2-1 away win against Uzbek giants Bunyodkor in the opening round of the AFC Champions League on Tuesday night.

In contrast, the Roar, who had an opportunity to rise to the top of the ladder less than a week ago, were schooled 2-0 by FC Tokyo in their Champions League debut.

The results were a lesson on many levels for Brisbane, the most immediate being not to dismiss the threat from an Adelaide outfit which had won just once from their last 10 outings in the A-League.

"They'll have gained some confidence from their win last night," Smith said at yesterday's recovery session at Yeronga pool.

"I expect them to come to Suncorp with confidence."

Another key message from the loss to Tokyo was meet every rival on the front foot.

Tokyo were in another class to Brisbane but Smith was infuriated his side waited until the second half to attack.

"If we're honest, we probably gave them a bit too much respect," the centre-back said.

"We should have been at them a bit more.

"If we play like that again we'll pick up no points in this competition.

"It was our first encounter and we won't make the same mistakes again."

A positive for Ange Postecoglou's men was the good health of the squad heading into their third match in 10 days.

Originally published as Players hopeful of United survival