Thompson is likely to be sidelined until well into next season and Merrick is already hard at work looking to strengthen the club's attacking options.

"There's no doubt we need to look at signing strikers first and foremost - certainly one, maybe two quality strikers," he told AAP.

"They're not easy to find but that's what we'll be doing."

The Victory boss said both Australian and overseas targets would be looked at with the preference being an Aussie recruit.

Merrick has categorically ruled out a move for Mark Viduka though.