Victory lose Flores for blockbuster

Marcos Flores ... will miss the Victory's clash with the Mariners due to injury. Source: George Salpigtidis / News Limited

Marquee man Marcos Flores will miss Melbourne Victory's season-defining clash with Central Coast in Gosford tonight.

The Argentinian has been ruled out because of a quad strain.

Flores trained with the reserves in match simulation drills this week.

He did so again on Friday before limping off Gosch's Paddock shortly before the session ended.

Victory are also missing star striker Archie Thompson and will field a youthful and markedly different side to its best XI.

Connor Pain, last week's goal-scorer in the A-League loss to Western Sydney, appears set to make his first start, while Francesco Stella will replace Flores up front.

Left back Adama Traore is a welcome inclusion after missing last week through suspension.

Coach Ange Postecoglou was coy when asked about Flores.

"We've just been trying a few different things at training; we always do," Postecoglou said.

"He's played a lot for us this year so it's just looking at some other options along the way."

Postecoglou said Thompson would hopefully return from a hamstring injury next week.

		P	W	D	L	GD	Pts
1	Central Coast	21	12	6	3	21	42
2	Western Sydney	21	13	2	6	12	41
3	Victory	21	11	3	7	2	36
4	Adelaide	21	11	2	8	2	35
5	Sydney	21	8	3	10	-7	27
6	Newcastle	22	7	6	9	-7	27
7	Brisbane	22	7	4	11	0	25
8	Heart	21	7	3	11	-3	24
9	Perth	21	6	4	11	-3	22
10	Wellington	21	5	5	11	-17	20

A loss would put Victory nine points behind Central Coast with just five games remaining - all but ending its premiership hopes.

"The most important thing is we play well and win, then we don't have to worry about anything else," Postecoglou said.

With Pain, Stella, Marco Rojas and Scott Galloway in the team and Andrew Nabbout likely to be on the bench, Victory's squad has five players aged 21 or under.

"I'm not afforded the luxury of being at a club where you can just rebuild without results," Postecoglou said.

"It's been challenging doing both. We're still very, very confident that we can be successful this year, but there's no doubt that in 12 months' time we'll be a much better team with all the young players we've been giving opportunities to."

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