Tara Rushton and Mark Rudan preview the clash between Brisbane Roar and Melbourne Victory.
Tomas Rogic of the Victory — left — should return to the starting line up against Brisbane Roar. Source: Getty Images
KEVIN Muscat expects his side to be written off before a ball is even kicked in anger in Saturday night’s top-of-the-table clash with Brisbane Roar.
But the Melbourne Victory coach says his side will relish the challenge of not only taking on the league-leaders at Suncorp Stadium, but also proving the doubters wrong who say that the build-up of fixtures is stacked too heavily against it.
Victory has been nothing short of incredible in the past fortnight.
It has gone undefeated in the four games it has played in the past 15 days, winning three of those matches and drawing the other.
Muscat has rotated his squad to perfection and further changes will come Saturday.
Mark Milligan and Tom Rogic, both of whom started on the bench in the Asian Champions League game against Yokohama F. Marinos on Tuesday, will return to the starting line-up, while Scott Galloway is a chance to do likewise.
Melbourne Victory attacker Kosta Barbarouses believes coach Kevin Muscat's rotation policy has been key to his side's positive results of late.
Less clear is who will partner Adrian Leijer in the centre of defence after Pablo Contreras left training at Gosch’s Paddock early yesterday and Nick Ansell didn’t train at all, while Dylan Murnane will again start at left back as Adama Traore has been ruled out with a knee injury for a second-successive game.
Muscat admitted that several of his players are sore, but insisted there would be no lag against the Roar tonight.
“Not at all because a team will be selected tomorrow night with a certain freshness,” he said.
“No chances will be taken on anyone so there will be no excuses on anyone who goes out there that they’re feeling fatigued or tired. If that’s the case they won’t play, it’s as simple as that, because someone that is willing and able to go out there and perform will be selected.”
Brisbane smacked Victory 3-0 at AAMI Park in Round 13, but Muscat gave no indication yesterday that his was a team that feared tonight’s opponents.
Melbourne Victory play Brisbane Roar this weekend in good form, after winning three games in 12 days.
“They’ve almost been given the (regular season) trophy to be honest, so you consider them to be the premiers plate holders,” Muscat said.
“The last game we played them here, for most of that first half we were good and then they gave us a bit of a touch up.
“But we’ll go up there and ... look to bring three points back. Taking everything in to consideration it’s going to be difficult, but it’s a challenge we’re relishing because each game that’s gone on in this period we’ve been written off a little bit more and I assume we’ll be written off for this one as well.
“But if Wednesday night is anything to go by, where the determination and grit from the players finding a way to win was so pleasing, then hopefully that holds us in good stead.”
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