Max Beister visa boosts Melbourne Victory

Nov 11, 2016 - 4:12 AM Melbourne Victory recruit Max Beister will debut for his new A-League club against Western Sydney after an 11th-hour clearance of his working visa.

The German youth international has been in Australia for almost three weeks, working on his fitness as he awaited the arrival of all-important paperwork.

Coach Kevin Muscat has been patiently waiting for the news, and delighted in telling his new forward on Friday morning when the news finally arrived.

"We got an email nice and early. He's got a spring in his step and we're all looking forward to it," he said.

The clearance arrives in the nick of time.

Not only is the 26-year-old ready and raring to go for Saturday night's game, there's an obvious vacancy in the forward line with Marco Rojas away on international duty with New Zealand.

But Muscat won't rush the loanee into the first-team, declaring it would be "unrealistic and irresponsible".

"We've been planning all week without him (but) he'll certainly come into contention," he said.

"We've got to a point now where he can be thrown in and add value.

"He can play anywhere in that front third of the park."

Rojas' absence and Muscat's decision to delay Beister's introduction means either Fahid Ben Khalfallah or Jai Ingham are likely to claim the vacant winger role against the Wanderers.

Captain Carl Valeri is also fit enough to resume, with Muscat saying his title-winning skipper was "touch and go for last week" and would be able to see out the match in central midfield.

The Wanderers arrive in Melbourne in a similar position to Victory, the sides are fifth and sixth in the table and yet to hit full stride after a month of competition.

The winner of the marquee match will consolidate their top-six place, but the loser could find themselves out of the finals positions at the end of the weekend.

To that end, fan support will be crucial but Muscat dismissed the suggestion that Victory could be out-sung at Etihad Stadium.

The club's biggest active supporter group, the Northern Terrace, has disbanded in the face of increased security measures, leaving Victory short of full voice.

Muscat said the vocal visiting Wanderers supporters wouldn't be allowed to reverberate around the Docklands venue.

"I don't think that's going to happen," he said.

"There's no love lost between the two teams. Both have got a massive fan base.

"We've had some good encounters, I'm more than sure that will continue."

STATS THAT MATTER

* Victory hasn't lost to Tony Popovic's side in Melbourne since February 2013, and has won five of their last seven games overall to the Wanderers.

* Western Sydney could achieve a club record fourth-straight draw should the two teams cancel each other out.

* Dimas has made more passes than any other player this season - 364 at a completion rate of 86 per cent.

Source: AAP