United were in a similar predicament last season but recovered spectacularly to win the league - though Reds defender Dylan McGowan is tiring of any comparison to the fresh season.

"Our performances are slightly better but if we continue to compare us to last season, it's not going to do us any good," McGowan said on Thursday.

"Last season we went on a phenomenal run. But we can't bank on that happening again.

"So we are going to need to start picking up points."

The Reds flew to Perth for Friday night's fixture against the fifth-placed Glory with two draws and four losses to open their championship defence.

"We are not kidding anyone on saying this was our plan to be in this position," McGowan said.

"We wanted to go out and win round one."

But McGowan was adamant morale remained solid within the United camp.

"Everyone is together," he said.

"It's obviously a very frustrating time, being at the bottom of the league is never nice for anybody.

"But we have got that example from last year, that if you do stick together this is what can happen."

McGowan said Adelaide's senior core were preaching a simple message.

"You always have the faith," he said.

"We think we're a good side and whether that accounts to going on a run like last season or whether we just pick up more points and make the top three, top two, then so be it.

"But teams are stronger this year than what they were last year and we are obviously going to have to rise to that."