“Victory is just another team for me,” Murdocca told au.fourfourtwo.com. “I've been up here a while so I don't feel anything special when I get down there. We'll be trying to go for the three points.”

When Murdocca walks out tonight, he'll have good memories about playing in a Queensland shirt on the Dome. Last season, Roar shocked the champions with a stunning 2-1 win in the Victorian capital.

“That was my first game back from injury, so it was a special game for me,” he explained.

“I wasn't expected to come back last season so to do it finally and play those last few games was an excellent thing for me. Everyone had written me off.”

Another fascinating sub-text to this clash will be the meeting of two Socceroo greats – and mates. Kevin Muscat of Victory and his one-time national team colleague, Roar captain Craig Moore, are set to square off.

However, Muscat is under a knee injury cloud and will be fighting to be passed fit.

“I’m just really looking forward to the match and obviously coming up against an old friend in Kevin Muscat; I’ll try to kick him before he kicks me, so it should be fun,” joked Moore.

“Personally I hope Melbourne have got their best team out because they’re the players I’d like to be playing against. Archie Thompson will obviously be one to watch because he can be quiet for 80-85 minutes and then just pop up and score a goal.

“Our job is to try and keep him quiet for the full 90 minutes and hopefully it will be more a case of their defenders having more of a job trying to control our strikers.”

Victory has named an extended squad of 17 to face Queensland with striker Danny Allsopp also doubtful for the clash.

Coach Ernie Merrick was also forced to leave out full back Matthew Kemp with a groin injury, calling in Kaz Patafta and Daniel Vasilevski to complete the squad.

"We've kept Kevin and Danny in the squad, but I have to say, it's not looking good for either of them,” he told the club's website.

Fitness tests will be conducted at lunchtime on Friday.

"Kevin has a lateral tear and a slight nick on a lateral cartilage. Dan's just struggling to come up.

"I don't think the injury can get much worse if he plays, but it's being able to cope with a certain amount of discomfort, and with breathing," he added.

Merrick was confident the team could get up to secure its first win of the season, pointing to good performances so far as evidence that results would soon follow.

"We're creating chances, we're going forward. Last week we conceded one very good goal and the other one was a poor defensive error, but we continue to create good chances," he said.

The Victorians will be desperate to find their first three points and kick start the defence of their crown.

However, the Roar feel the Victorians are yet to hit their straps.

"Melbourne most probably didn't look as convincing as they did last year," Farina told www.queenslandroar.com.au after viewing their last fixture in Newcastle (a 2-2 draw).

"We've had a look at the game and there are a few things in there we're hoping to exploit if we can.

"But they're still a good side, there's no doubt about that."