Kruse has been sidelined with a hamstring injury so far this season, further depleting Victory's already light striking stocks.

However, he is now ready to take his place in the side and help Victory shake off their sluggish start to the campaign.

"Robbie Kruse will be up for it," coach Ernie Merrick told the Herald Sun "He'll be pumped for it.

"We're really happy the way we're playing, but we need finishers and there will probably be very little change to the team."

In other injury news, it isn't yet clear whether Carlos Hernandez - cleared of a serious knee problem - will be ready for the Fury encounter.

Merrick added: "He may come up for the weekend, he may not. It's normally a one-to-two week injury."