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Dec 02, 2010   |  7:06PM AET

Victory confident on doubling dose

Victory confident on doubling dose

Striker Robbie Kruse is backing Melbourne Victory to repeat the win they achieved when Brisbane Roar’s last visited AAMI Park, as the two teams prepare to meet at the same venue once again this Friday night.

Striker Robbie Kruse is backing Melbourne Victory to repeat the win they achieved when Brisbane Roar’s last visited AAMI Park, as the two teams prepare to meet at the same venue once again this Friday night.

Kruse declined to talk margins – it was 3-0 back in Round 6 in what stands as the Roar’s one and only defeat this season – but he believes an early score could prove decisive.

“Credit goes to (coach) Ange (Postecoglou) and the team up there, they are playing some great football,” said Kruse after training in the rain at Gosch’s Paddock on Thursday morning.

“But in the back of their minds they’ll know that the last time they came down here we gave them a bit of a flogging and up there in the second half we outplayed them and were unlucky to lose.”

“We really went on the front foot and put pressure on their defenders.”

“I think they made a few mistakes and we capitalised.”

“It’s all about when we get our chances to take them early and if we can get an early goal it’s going to help.”

“We’re confident we’ll get the points.”

Kruse believes the attacking trinity he forms with Archie Thompson and Carlos Hernandez is really starting to click.

It was Hernandez who provided the final pass for Thompson’s goal, his 50th in the Hyundai A-League, in last Saturday’s 2-2 result in Wellington, and both players were heavily involved in the build-up to the Victory’s second goal scored by Kruse.

“In the first half especially we played some great football, the whole team, particularly the second goal,” Kruse said.

“There was a fair few passes there and good all round movement.”

“It’s only going to get better in the next few games.”

Kruse agreed that he, more than anyone, will benefit as Thompson’s form continues to build in his comeback from a knee reconstruction, and if Hernandez can return to his best.

“When Archie Thompson and Carlos are on their game they’re probably the most influential players in the A-League,” said Kruse.

“If we can combine well and do our stuff up front it takes the pressure off us defensively.”

Asked how he feels about coming up against his former team on Friday, Kruse said: “Every footballer when they come up against their old team wants to always prove a point and I’m no different.”