A-League stalwart McKay ready to Roar

Apr 29, 2017 - 3:08 AM With some advanced planning and a little bit of luck, Brisbane Roar will be close to full strength for their A-League semi-final with Melbourne Victory on Sunday.

Victory have no injuries or unavailabilities, and without a match for 16 days, will be primed for the occasion.

Brisbane coach John Aloisi hasn't had it so lucky.

An elimination final and an Asian Champions League (ACL) campaign has proved a tricky balancing act, particularly with a few injuries and illnesses to consider.

On the eve of their clash with Victory, Aloisi might have pulled it off.

The most important players he took to Thailand for his midweek date - Luke DeVere and Thomas Broich - have reported back fit and ready to go.

Jamie Young, who suffered a horrific gash to his arm after colliding with a rusty hook on the goalpost, will play with a bandage covering his stitches.

Jack Hingert will wear a mask to shield his injured cheekbone.

But perhaps most importantly, captain fantastic Matt McKay is reporting for duty once more after a knee injury and Aloisi is delighted.

"As soon as Matt McKay went down with that injury against Adelaide six weeks ago I said to the medical staff that the goal is to get Matt McKay ready for the second week of the finals," Aloisi said on Saturday.

"We were confident that we'd get there. He's pulled up really well from that injury and he's fine to go."

Does that mean McKay - and fellow veteran Broich, who has played three hours of football in the last week - is fine to play 90 or perhaps 120 minutes against Victory?

"There are question marks," Aloisi admitted.

"Thomas showed last week he played 120 minutes and go through the game no problem.

"McKay hasn't played for six weeks but he should be fine if he has to start. I'm not saying that he's going to."

The one hiccup could be Jade North, who is still battling the effects of a virus.

"I didn't go on about it last week but he was sick before the (Wanderers) game and he played with a temperature," Aloisi said.

"He showed what kind of person he is by playing through that, playing out of position and performing really well."

Without the same availability issues, opposing coach Kevin Muscat admitted his surprise that Aloisi took a threadbare squad to Thailand, given their ACL campaign was on the line.

"It's not something we would have done," he said.

"Everyone's different. It's Brisbane's prerogative but it's not our issue."

Source: AAP