Soccer: Mentor urges Muscat to play for another year

MELBOURNE: Melbourne Victory coach Ernie Merrick has issued a grand final eve plea to skipper Kevin Muscat - play on for one more A-League season.

Muscat may be headed into his last A-League appearance in tonight's grand final against Sydney FC at Etihad Stadium.

The 36-year-old is weighing up whether to go on for another year, or quit after a decorated career during which he spent a decade playing in Britain, as well as representing the Socceroos with distinction through multiple World Cup campaigns.

Convinced Muscat is playing as well as ever, Merrick has pleaded with the combative Victory skipper not to walk away just yet.

"I've got Kevin pencilled in for next season and I've thrown away the rubber," Merrick said.

"I'm hoping he stays on as a player as well as a coach next season.

"Kevin and Archie [Thompson] really are our two marquee players - his [Muscat's] contribution to our club's enormous."

Muscat, who is still committed to playing in this year's Asian Champions League (ACL) campaign beyond tonight's match, remains unsure whether he will continue into a sixth A-League season.

"I've not really given it any thought," Muscat said.

"First and foremost I've got a challenge week in, week out, trying to get my body up for games.

"At this point, I'm fit and healthy. But the last 12 months, I've gone into every game thinking it will be my last game.

"There's still hopefully getting into the last 16 of the Asian Champions League.

"That [the ACL group matches] will take us to May and then I'll go on holiday then discuss it with Ernie."

Melbourne are aiming for their third A-League grand final win in five seasons - something which would further cement their status as the competition's benchmark.

It would also be a perfectly-timed strike for the hearts and minds of Victorians, who will have a choice of A-League club next season when new franchise Melbourne Heart enters the competition.

Merrick admitted the looming dilution of the Melbourne-Sydney rivalry, which also won't be helped when a Western Sydney team is added in 2011-12, would add to the sense of occasion tonight.

"This is definitely a bit special - it's probably the last opportunity for one team in Melbourne, one team in Sydney, to go head-to-head in a true rivalry," Merrick said.

"Next year there'll be a second Melbourne side. At the moment we represent all Melbourne and Victoria.

"Our customers are our fans, and it's about doing the right thing by them. It's all about winning and winning consistently."

Both Melbourne and Sydney FC will delay confronting their selection dilemmas until the last possible moment.

Victory midfielder Tom Pondeljak, who scored the winner in last season's grand final, trained with the team yesterday as he attempts to prove his fitness after a hamstring strain.

Merrick said the 34-year-old would be given until just before the match until a final decision was made on whether to start him.

But star striker Thompson looks certain to start after recovering well from a broken bone in his foot.

Sydney FC coach Vitezslav Lavicka is wrestling with a selection decision of his own, with Sebastian Ryall likely to be preferred to fit-again Socceroo defender Shannon Cole for the starting right-back's spot.

The pitch has been relaid for the match after much criticism about its state in recent weeks.

Grand Final

Melbourne Victory v Sydney FC

Melbourne, 9 tonight, live SS3

- AAP