Melbourne Victory won't rush Kruse

Melbourne Victory coach Ernie Merrick has decided to exercise "Kruse control" ahead
of his side's A-League clash with Perth Glory on Saturday night.
Merrick has resisted the temptation to rush striker Robbie Kruse back to play the
Glory in the club's AAMI Park debut despite his quicker-than-expected recovery from
a hamstring injury.
Kruse trained freely and fully with the Victory in Melbourne on Friday.
Last time the two sides met, Kruse terrorised the Glory with a hat-trick in a 6-2
thumping.
But despite the Victory being minus star striker Archie Thompson with a long-term
knee injury and short on attacking options, Merrick preferred to wait one more week
until his return.
"He's been training really well but we're not going to risk him, although he is
looking terrific," Merrick said.
"Definitely I'd say next week. We've got 30 rounds, if he tears it again he'd be out
for six to eight weeks.
"I'd prefer to have him for 28 rounds than lose him for several weeks."
Merrick said he was almost certain to name the same starting 11 against the Glory as
the team which drew 3-3 with Sydney FC in a pulsating A-League opener last weekend.
Talented Mate Dugandzic, who scored twice for the Victory last week, keeps his place
as the team gets its chance to exploit a playing surface at AAMI Park which promises
to suit their style of football.
"To play at a state-of-the-art facility ... the surface is immaculate," Merrick said
of his side's move from regular home ground Etihad Stadium to AAMI Park.
"We had a run on it Wednesday morning and it was first-class. We really knocked the
ball around well.
"We're at the stage we're playing eight versus eights (at training), the inter
passing of the boys is very good, so to play on a surface like AAMI Park will be
fantastic."
Perth's new marquee signing Robbie Fowler is likely to come in for close attention
from Victory defenders Adrian Leijer and Kevin Muscat.
Fowler had little impact in his Glory debut in a 3-3 draw with North Queensland last
weekend, and Leijer is likely to find himself charged with the main responsibility
to keep the ex-Liverpool star quiet.
"Robbie's a great player and he's had a stellar career. I can't wait to play against
him," Leijer said.
"Hopefully he brings a few more numbers through the gate. Perth's put a good squad
together and last week they scored three goals so we're going to have to be on our
toes at the back."