Adelaide United would be playing Sydney FC this weekend if the A-League and the FFA were keen for the Reds to make an impact in the Asian Football Confederation Champions League.

Instead the Reds, like the league's other seven sides, will be taking a break from competition after only three rounds.

Adelaide's season then goes into overdrive as it plays five games in 16 days. This includes its home-and-away AFC quarter-final matches against the Kashima Antlers.

Adelaide's hectic schedule could have been made easier if the A-League had transferred the Reds' September 20 clash against Sydney, which falls between its two games against the Japanese side, to this weekend.

It was an idea mooted by the club but was turned down, according to United's assistant coach, Phil Stubbins.

"We tried to go down that path but unfortunately, with TV and other things locked in, it was a door that was closed for us and we couldn't reopen it as much as we tried," Stubbins said in a 5RPH radio interview this week.

"We've just got to deal with it and cop it as sweet as we can, and get on with it."

To their credit, the Reds have remained focused and are trying to make the most of a challenging situation.

Earlier this week the players went to an Elizabeth West paintball park in what could only be described as a male-bonding exercise. It has been ages since the club has held such a recreational activity during a season but it could prove the calm before the storm.

With the paintball experience behind them, the Reds got down to some serious training this week. Coach Aurelio Vidmar described it as "topping up" the players' conditioning and general skill base. He said the workload could prove beneficial.

"Most of the players haven't been in the situation where they are playing two games in a week," Vidmar said. "Some will probably get a bit more game time than others but if we've got everyone on board, everyone has to play a role."

While United would have liked to spread its September games over a longer period, Vidmar said there were some positives in having an enforced break this weekend.

"Players who are injured have got a little more time to try to come up," he said. "In ways, you can lose momentum but it also gives the players some time at home. We are going to be away for 15 or 16 days, so this week will be the last time they see their family for a little while."

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While the A-League season has been put on ice, supporters will turn their attentions to the Socceroos and their bid to qualify for the next World Cup.

The team plays a friendly against the Netherlands in Holland tomorrow (Saturday) before going head-to-head with Uzbekistan on September 10.

Uzbekistan is an unknown side to most but SBS reporter and experienced Asian football journalist Scott McIntyre says it could prove harder to beat than Japan.

"They are a real force, a growing power in Asian football and I think if we come away with a result, it's a very good result," he said in a 5RPH radio interview.

McIntyre said he was optimistic about the Socceroos' chances as they will match up well against the Uzbekistan's "more physical, European style".

But he added the Socceroos might have made a mistake by organising a match in Europe only days before the clash.

"I would have thought they'd go directly to Tashkent, particularly if you consider that Uzbekistan are on the road in their first match," he said.

"Australia really could have taken some sort of advantage by going to Tashkent, settling in and being ready to play when the Uzbeks have had to travel back from the Middle East. It's not far, I know, but it's still travel and it's hectic and it's disruptive."

McIntyre was also concerned that Australian coach Pim Verbeek wasn't paying enough respect to his opposition, going into such an important clash. It has been reported that Verbeek said most of the Uzbekistan team came from Russia when, in reality, most of them play in the country's domestic competition.

"If that's the kind of research he's doing into the local league, it's a little bit concerning," he said.