MELBOURNE Victory youngster Leigh Broxham is set for a key marking job in Wednesday night`s Asian Champions League game against Gamba Osaka.With Victory gunning for all three points against Gamba Osaka, Broxham will be asked to nullify playmaker Lucas in a crucial contest for both teams, who are locked in a battle for the one qualifying spot from Group G at Telstra Dome.
The Victory coaching staff has identified the Brazilian striker as a dangerman when he arrives in support of high-scoring countryman Bare and Masato Yamazaki.
Melbourne will likely employ a zone defence with shared responsibilities at the back.
Broxham, 20, will have to be aware at all times of quelling Lucas, while central defender Rodrigo Vargas will make first contact with Bare.
It is not a defensive mindset adopted by Victory, but more of being acutely aware of Gamba Osaka`s attacking weapons and trying to ensure they receive limited opportunities.
"They`ve got three good strikers and are all good scorers," Victory coach Ernie Merrick said.
"Bare and Lucas are two we will have to keep an eye on so someone like Leigh Broxham will get the job on Lucas and probably Rody will be on Bare.
"There`s no doubt Bare and Lucas and Yamazaki are going to produce attacking football, but we`ve been working on the way we want to play the last couple of weeks. We play good, attacking football. If they want to come at us, we can go back at them."
There is no question Victory will need to rediscover their confidence after losing 3-1 away to Chonburi FC in Bangkok last month, levelling at 1-1 only to be flattened by a stunning strike and a late goal on the break.
Now Victory have back-to-back games against Gamba Osaka at home and in Japan a fortnight later, knowing their chances to advance to the knockout phase rest on earning at least four points from the two matches.
Gamba Osaka has had three straight wins in the J-League, including a 2-0 home win against Shimizu S-Pulse on Saturday.
"This will be the first time Gamba Osaka has played a competitive game in Australia and we`re fortunate to be playing teams of this quality in the Asian Champions League," Merrick said.
"But we`d rather be playing these big teams with high-quality players.
"They are one of the best teams in Asia. I think it will a very open, attacking, entertaining game with two teams prepared to have a go at each other. We won`t be changing the way we play."
