Melbourne Victory's Asian Champions League campaign may have stretched its playing stocks to the limit, but the boost it has given to its young players and to team morale could help propel it over the line in the club's sudden-death semi-final against championship favourite Brisbane Roar on Sunday.
Kevin Muscat's side bowed out of the ACL campaign after a gallant scoreless draw in South Korea against Jeonbuk on Tuesday night and has had little time to rest ahead of Sunday's tie at Suncorp Stadium. On paper, that's a huge disadvantage.
But the togetherness that the gruelling schedule has developed could be the ace up Victory's sleeve, skipper Mark Milligan believes, as he prepares to lead his team into what he hopes is the penultimate fixture of the A-League season.
''Absolutely. The scheduling for us and the other teams [Western Sydney Wanderers and Central Coast Mariners] has been very difficult and will play a part this weekend. But, overall, the Champions League has been excellent for us,'' he said.
''Being realistic, there's not that many games in the A-League and you can go through a year where a lot of the new players and young boys don't really get a chance. The Champions League has given our young boys a chance to get some game time and they have done extremely well. That experience they have gained coming into finals will be invaluable for us.''
If Victory needed any further motivation for Sunday's game, then qualification for next year's Champions League – which would come if it beats Brisbane – should be a great incentive.
Milligan acknowledged as much, but said that in reality a grand final spot was all the incentive players needed. ''We said from the beginning that the ACL is something we want to be involved in, but at finals time, at Suncorp, against the champions, the boys won't need much more motivation than that,'' he said.
Milligan missed that last Champions League game due to suspension, and he is one of four big inclusions Muscat will be able to draft in for Sunday's match. The captain will come into midfield, with Gui Finkler – who was monitored as a precaution at a Thursday training session – and the in-form James Troisi, who was also rested from the trip to South Korea. Veteran defender Pablo Contreras, another left behind midweek, will slot back into the heart of defence.
''I am as good as it gets at the end of a long season. It was a good chance to freshen up not just for myself, but Pablo, Jimmy and Gui,'' Milligan said. ''A few fresh bodies coming in with an extra day's rest [will help]. Today's session was shorter but intense and energetic as possible. It was nice and sharp.''
One player who is unlikely to be risked is Socceroos midfielder Tom Rogic. He was running separately from the group at the end of training, and Milligan does not believe the Victory brains trust will take any chances in such an important match. ''I can't see them rushing him in if he's not ready, its been a couple of weeks since he played at Newcastle.''
Neither Victory nor Brisbane takes a backward step in its matches, so Milligan is forecasting a high-energy, frantic clash in which the visitors' defence will be put under pressure.
''I think defensively we have been quite steady over the past four or five weeks. There's no doubting their attack, but we will go out on the park and play our game and try to get at them. We won't shy away from that and I don't think they will either. There will be that little bit of extra intensity with the grand final on the line.''
The fact that Roar's top striker, Besart Berisha, has signed to play for Victory next season will make no impact. ''I don't think any of our centre-backs will hold back. He's very passionate, he's a big part of what they do and how they play,'' he said. ''Whatever happens this weekend I am sure it will all be hugs and kisses next year. People change teams and move on, he's an excellent striker, it's a very good signing. When you can get someone like that, it's a massive boost.
''I think it will, hopefully, be an open, attacking match. They have a very high work rate through midfield, we are going to want to get at them. This game, everything is on the line, we don't want our season to end, neither do they.''
