Melbourne Victory coach Kevin Muscat has warned against underestimating a Perth Glory side who’ll be desperate to climb the ladder when they meet at nib Stadium.
Saturday’s clash promises to be an exciting affair with both sides desperate for the three points, as Perth sit last and Victory a point adrift of second place Wanderers.
“It gets to this time of the season and everyone gets desperate for different reasons,” Muscat said ahead of tomorrow night’s game.
“I expect a desperate Perth outfit trying to take three points and trying to win a game of football, especially at home. From our perspective as well it’s the same.
“We’re desperate maybe for a different reason so I’m expecting both teams to really go at it come tomorrow night.”
On paper it looks like a game that Victory should be expected to win, and with so much pressure on a top-two spot, it’s one they can ill afford to lose.
The head coach reiterated that each game is to be taken as they come in the chase for that elusive second place which would guarantee a week off come finals, a real bonus considering Melbourne’s hectic playing schedule.
“From our perspective we want to finish this year as high as we possibly can and we could win our next five games and not be guaranteed second spot so I don’t want to look too far in terms of where we’re going to end up,” he said.
“The reality is that we’ve got a game in front of us tomorrow night that we believe we can win and we’ll be going to Perth with that attitude.”
With Muscat defending his decision to rotate his squad after the midweek draw against Jeonbuk Motors, there remains the possibility that he could spring a selection surprise, especially given the long trip across to the west.
Archie Thompson and Pablo Contreras, who both missed out in that Asian Champions League match, look set to slip back into the starting line-up as well as James Troisi, who started on the subs bench.
Adama Traore has also pulled up fine after 90 minutes midweek and will take place in the Victory back four.
Muscat has insisted that despite the changes due to be made, there’s little importance in having a consistent starting 11, rather the aim is for consistency in performance.
“Consistency in performance is far more important than having consistently picking the same team because reality suggests we’re not in a position to do that.
“If everyone’s fit we’re still not in a position to do that with the amount of games we’ve got, so the focus is finding a consistency in performance regardless of who’s out there.”
Melbourne Victory will be aiming to shore up their finals spot as they fly out to west to take on the Perth Glory. Kick-off for Saturdays match is scheduled for 6:30pm.