Brazilian midfielder Fred is poised for a recall to the Melbourne Victory starting XI for this weekend's glamour clash against Queensland Roar, but his countryman Alessandro could start on the bench for the first time in his Australian career.

Fred, the attacking midfielder, has completed the three-game suspension he incurred for elbowing Sydney's Mark Milligan in the round-two game at Telstra Dome.

He has been drafted straight into the squad for Sunday's Telstra Dome game against the side sitting four points behind Melbourne in second place on the ladder.

Coach Ernie Merrick named the same 15 players who travelled to Perth for the 2-1 win in round five, plus Fred, so one will have to be left out when the team sheets are handed in before kick-off.

Kristian Sarkies has been filling in for Fred, and either he, defensive midfielder Steve Pantelidis or wide player Vince Lia could face the axe.

Adrian Caceres did so well coming on after half an hour to replace Alessandro in Perth — scoring the first goal and creating the second — that he should keep his place in the starting line-up, meaning the Brazilian winger would be left on the bench.

There is no place in the squad at all for Victory's other South American striker, Claudinho, but there was good news for defender Daniel Piorkowski, an ever-present in a parsimonious back line that has conceded only three goals in five matches. He has shaken off a knee complaint and will start against the Roar.

Speaking through teammate and interpreter Roddy Vargas, Fred said: "It's been very hard watching the team going out and playing and not being part of it, but now I have the chance to be available to put something in … I feel I owe the team a bit."

Roar coach Miron Bleiberg will leave out goalkeeper Liam Reddy (who has played in all five of the club's games this season) for Tommy Willis, who was the No. 1 at the Roar last season.

While Melbourne has enjoyed a purple patch in the past two months (winning seven of its past eight pre-season and A-League games), the Roar is the only side it has not got the better of. The two drew 0-0 after extra time in a pre-season game at Epping in early August.

Earlier this week, Bleiberg said his side simply had to win this game for the good of the other A-League clubs, lest Melbourne establish too clear an early-season lead.

Yesterday he said he has known for seven weeks that Reddy would not be used this weekend. "I saw enough in that game in Melbourne in the pre-season cup to know that Tommy would play for me in this game."

Merrick is expecting the Roar to come at his side and says it will have to be sharper than it was against Perth in round five.

"I don't think we played well, (but) you can't go through the season playing fantastic games every week. It's a bit like a day at the office.

"You don't always have a great day, but you have got to put in. We put in and ground out a result, and that's something we weren't able to do last year."

MELBOURNE VICTORY v QUEENSLAND ROAR
Telstra Dome, Sunday, 5pm
TV: Fox Sports Three, 4.30pm. Radio: SEN1116, 4.30pm

SQUADS — MELBOURNE VICTORY: Michael Theoklitos (gk), Kevin Muscat (c), Daniel Piorkowski, Steve Pantelidis, Daniel Allsopp, Archie Thompson, Vince Lia, Rodrigo Vargas, Kristian Sarkies, Adrian Caceres, Adrian Leijer, Simon Storey, Grant Brebner, Alessandro, Eugene Galekovic (gk) (one to be omitted).
In: Fred (after suspension). Out: Nil.

QUEENSLAND ROAR: Tom Willis (gk), Andrew Packer, Chad Gibson, Josh McCloughan, Stuart McLaren, Marcus Wedau, Massimo Murdocca, Simon Lynch, Ante Milicic, Reinaldo, Yuning Zhang, Spase Dilevski, Matthew McKay, Hyuk-Su Seo, Dario Vidosic, Sasa Ognenovski, Liam Reddy (gk) (two to be omitted).
In: Spase Dilevski (promoted), Stuart McLaren (back from calf injury).
Out: Nil