SPORT Muscat’s big calls for semi

MELBOURNE Victory must try to repeat last season’s semifinal win against Sydney FC without star attacker James Troisi.

The 2015 Asian Cup hero has fallen agonisingly short of featuring in tonight’s cutthroat semi-final at Jubilee Stadium, with Victory coach Kevin Muscat left with a tactical conundrum.

Victory’s coaching staff must decide whether to unleash their pair of midfield pitbulls, Spaniard Raul Baena and captain Carl Valeri on a fatigued Sydney FC, or stick with the same XI from last week’s 3-1 win over Wellington Phoenix.

Midfielder Elvis Kamsoba came off the bench in the midweek Champions League loss at Daegu FC, while the rest of the first XI midfielders and attackers stayed in Melbourne.

“Jimmy was so close, but he won’t make it. Experience tells me going into these games not quite 100 per cent, you’re better off with players that have been playing,’’ Muscat said.

“All teams lift at the latter stages, in finals. But these games are won by a group, everyone’s got their role to play.”

Victory keeper Lawrence Thomas was among the heroes in last season’s semi-final upset, and he admitted his preparation for big games had changed from his youth.

“If I look back to my first semi against (Melbourne) City, the night before, day of the game I was a nervous wreck. Just with experience now I’ve learnt what works best for me,’’ Thomas said.

“It has to be relaxed, not think too much or play the game in my head beforehand.

“As a young kid you try and play every situation in your head and when you get to the game you’re a bit mentally fatigued.

“Now it’s the opposite. I have to check when kick-off is. Then when I get there I’m on.”

Thomas said Victory were quietly confident.

“The team and the type of players we have, when it comes down to these one-off games, without boosting ourselves up, no-one really likes to play us,’’ he said.