IT'S a bit like Groundhog Day.

Each Friday the routine is the same. Well it seems like that anyway, given the vagaries of the A-League draw this year which has so far seen many of the Reds' home matches grouped into the early part of the season. And all of them held at Hindmarsh on Friday evenings.

With the working week inching towards its completion, it becomes harder and harder to concentrate on anything remotely productive. Pre-match nerves start to kick in as does a sense of anticipation as to the impending battle and what will unfold.

This Friday night, Melbourne Victory (boo, hiss, hiss) are in town.

Buoyed by a thumping 1-0 win (humour me) over the Mariners last week the Reds have regained a little confidence. The inclusion of both Dodd and Cassio had a marked effect in that match, with Cassio scoring the winner (if we exclude the cross-bar and Vukovic's head from the mix).

Craig Foster referred to Dodd's inclusion as the key factor, saying that Dodd was able to inject a spark into the team that had been missing. It's a point I certainly I agree with. Dodd's ability to take on players and run at defences is vital. More often than not he creates chances that other players don't.

Foster's comments got me thinking though. Is Dodd really our key man? If not, which player can the team least afford to not have out on the park? For me, at the moment, that player is Paul Reid.

When Reid was absent against Fury recently it stood out a mile. Adam Hughes tried to patch up the hole but was clearly unsuccessful. Reid is the team's on-field general and is able to combine a steadiness with a creative side that brings others into the game.

The worrying thing, of course, in light of the Melbourne game looming is the fact that Reid will again be missing because of injury. Ironically it's the same week in which the key man for the opposition, Kevin Muscat (boo, hiss, hiss), returns from the injury abyss.

The Reds are light-on for replacements for the key, central midfield role that Reid has been filling. Perhaps Barbiero or Sarkies (if fit) could be tried, or even Shin, although I worry about him being brushed off the ball too easily.

Whatever key the club tries, I hope it fits. If so, it may just unlock a win.