Melbourne Victory has added two players to an extended squad for Saturday night’s Remembrance Round match against Western Sydney Wanderers.
Captain Carl Valeri is set to make his return from injury, while striker George Howard has also been promoted.
Valeri, who has missed the past fortnight with hamstring soreness, trained strongly this week and is expected to feature at Etihad Stadium.
Kiwi winger Marco Rojas (international duty) is the only withdrawal from the side that lost 2-1 to Sydney FC last week, with one more player to be omitted before kick-off.
German attacking midfielder Max Beister, who arrived in Australia last month, is waiting for his working visa to be processed before he can be eligible for selection.
Victory has won five and drawn one of its past seven matches against the Wanderers, including a 2-0 win when the sides last met in March.
Victory is also unbeaten in its past five home games against Western Sydney, with its only home loss to the Wanderers coming in February 2013.
Victory is fifth on the Hyundai A-League ladder with seven points after five rounds, one-point clear of the sixth-placed Wanderers, who head to Melbourne on the back of three straight draws.
Saturday night’s match will feature a full Australian Defence Force military order of service and donation collection points for the Poppy Appeal as part of Remembrance Round.
The Poppy Appeal raises funds for current and former serving members of the Australian and Allied defence forces and their dependents when in need.
Tickets for Saturday night’s Remembrance Round match at Etihad Stadium are available here.
Renew or join as a Melbourne Victory member and stand Arm in Arm with us in 2016/17. Click here for more details.
Hyundai A-League 2016/17 Round 6
Melbourne Victory v Western Sydney Wanderers
Saturday, November 12, 7.50pm AEDT
Etihad Stadium, Melbourne
TV: Live on Fox Sports 505 from 7.45pm AEDT
Radio: 774 ABC Melbourne/ABC Local Radio Vic, Grandstand Digital, A-League Live via the ABC Radio app, EON Sports Radio, SEN 1116, Crocmedia A-League Live, Hawkesbury Radio
Online: Join the conversation on social media using #MVCvWSW
Melbourne Victory squad (one to be omitted): 2.Jason GERIA, 4.Nick ANSELL, 6.Leigh BROXHAM, 8.Besart BERISHA, 10.James TROISI, 11.Mitch AUSTIN, 13.Oliver BOZANIC, 14.Fahid BEN KHALFALLAH, 15.Alan BARO, 16.Rashid MAHAZI, 17.James DONACHIE, 19.George HOWARD, 20.Lawrence THOMAS (gk), 21.Carl VALERI (c), 22.Stefan NIGRO, 23.Jai INGHAM, 27.Alastair BRAY (gk)
Ins: 19.George HOWARD (promoted), 21.Carl VALERI (returns from injury)
Outs: 7.Marco ROJAS (international duty – 1 week)
Unavailable: 5.Daniel GEORGIEVSKI (collarbone – 2-3 weeks)
