Melbourne Victory midfielder Rashid Mahazi set to feature in clash with Western Sydney Wanderers

RASHID Mahazi can count himself unlucky not to have played more games for Melbourne Victory, and now he has the chance to audition for a bigger role.

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 15: Rashid Mahazi of the Victory in action during the round 18 A-League match between the Brisbane Roar and Melbourne Victory at Suncorp Stadium on April 15, 2015 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

MIDFIELDER Rashid Mahazi can count himself unlucky not to have played more games for Melbourne Victory, and now he has the chance to audition for a more prominent role.

With captain Carl Valeri’s immediate playing future clouded due to issues with his balance, Mahazi will again start in the highly anticipated clash against Western Sydney in front of a full house at Pirtek Stadium.

Mahazi, 23, has already exceeded last season’s total A-League minutes, with all five starts coming in Valeri’s absence.

Handed 16 starts in 2013-14 by Ange Postecoglou and Kevin Muscat, including four in the Asian Champions League, Muscat persisted with the imposing duo of Valeri and Mark Milligan last season.

Though Muscat has had to tweak his more attack-minded system from pre-season by dropping Oliver Bozanic deeper to provide more support, Mahazi appears to have stepped up a notch this season but the impressive Wanderers are a different proposition.

“He (Mahazi) has performed very well. It will be a test for him and the rest of the team this weekend,’’ Muscat said.

“He’s played the last four on the bounce and eliminating last weekend because it was too difficult to analyse performance, he’s been steadily improving and it’s given him a great deal of confidence knowing he can come in and he’s more than capable.’’

The top-place Wanderers are looking ominous but Mahazi’s test comes against arguably the form midfield in the A-League.

Former Victory player Mitch Nichols is thriving in his new environment, netting five goals as he nears career-best form, while he’s supported by the Spanish dynamic midfield duo of Andreu and Dimas whose skill, poise and positioning provide a perfect platform.

The Wanderers are always underpinned by a stingy defence (conceded just eight goals in nine games), but they have become a more attacking and possession-focused team this season.

Victory’s Rashid Mahazi will get a chance to impress against the Wanderers.

“They’ve changed their style dramatically. It’s apparent they’ve worked very hard in the off-season to do so because it’s reaping rewards,’’ Muscat said.

“We’ll go across there and our style’s not going to change and with the two styles it bodes well for a good game.’’

Victory players were given extra time off after pulling up sore due to last week’s woeful North Harbour Stadium pitch in Auckland, but Muscat said they soon moved on.

Valeri aside, a near full-strength team has travelled to Western Sydney with Muscat unlikely to change his first XI.

“Last week hasn’t affected our mindset or confidence whatsoever,’’ Muscat said.

“Anyone in the right frame of mind understands that last week was a lottery, but we’ve had to get over it and we’ve prepared very well to go across to Western Sydney and look forward to a good game of football, we enjoy going there it’s always a great atmosphere.’’

Originally published as Melbourne Victory midfielder Rashid Mahazi set to feature in clash with Western Sydney Wanderers