Melbourne Victory coach Kevin Muscat has lauded his side's flexibility, which will be needed for their tricky A-League trip to Brisbane Roar.
Imports Georg Niedermeier and Raul Baena have been ruled out of the round eight clash, when Victory will shoot for a sixth-straight win and the chance to go top of the table.
Muscat -a four-time A-League champion, two each as a player and a coach - has bristled at the notion that his side, led by star recruit Keisuke Honda, might already be better than previous title winners.
But he had no hesitation saying his current squad was the most malleable, allowing him to field different players in different roles and solve unavailability problems.
"Without doubt (it's the most flexible)," he said on Thursday.
"Especially in the front two thirds of the park ... a greater flexibility in personnel and then within structure.
"And at the moment there's individuals getting some high accolades and the reality is the individuals are performing the way they are because the team, the unit, the togetherness is so organised.
"We're pretty pleased about that and we'll continue working on the things we're good at."
Some of those individuals - Thomas Deng, James Troisi and particularly Terry Antonis - have shown the sort of form that might warrant an Asian Cup call-up when Graham Arnold names his squad next week.
Muscat said he would worry about that if it happened.
"Terry is not performing well at all," he said sarcastically with a smile.
Niedermeier's injury, strained ligaments, comes after the towering defender suffered two concussions in his first two months in Australia.
Muscat said he was holding out hope of a return for the German for next week's Christmas derby.
"When you watch the vision you probably think (a derby return is unlikely) but I am not going to put a time frame on it," he said.
Baena's absence, from a lingering hamstring issue, is precautionary, given a late pre-season start for the Spaniard.
Against Brisbane, captain Carl Valeri will continue in his place, with Nick Ansell fit enough to come in at the back.
"All the players in the squad have had an opportunity this year. Everyone in our squad," Muscat said.
"We've had players coming in and out ... it seems like revolving doors.
"It's a credit to the group, the players that are coming on during games and coming into the team have stepped up and not let the side down."
Australian Associated Press
