Kevin Muscat might avoid his midfield selection dilemma in round one of the new A-League season because Mark Milligan is away on Socceroos duty in Malaysia and thus unavailable for the grand final rematch with champions Sydney FC.

But the Melbourne Victory boss is likely to have some head scratching to do in the weeks after as he tries to fit three players into two spots.

Victory have recruited strongly at the top end of their list, knowing that a high quality starting 11 is essential if they are to challenge on all fronts this coming season – in the Asian Champions League as well as the A-League.

But inevitably that means some high-profile players will have to take turns on the bench.

Muscat has some excellent talent at his disposal in the central midfield areas, notably Milligan, who often captains his country. He also has former Victory skipper Carl Valeri and new addition Matias Sanchez, a highly regarded Argentinian who earlier in his career was part of an Estudiantes squad that won the Copa Libertadores – South America's equivalent of the Champions League.

In Milligan's absence in round one it is likely that Sanchez and Valeri could do duty in the centre of the park, with James Troisi ahead of them in the number 10 role and Besart Berisha the most advanced striker. Kosta Barbarouses and new Dutch signing Leroy George could line up on the flanks.

But when the Socceroos star returns, Muscat may have to make some difficult choices. It is hard to see him leaving the man who lifted the A-League trophy for Victory in its last championship season of 2014/15 on the bench.

"We wanted to bring in good quality cover. It's important particularly for the Champions League where you need the strongest squad you can have as the opposition is strong.

"We did it in wide areas and also for the middle of the park. They get through a lot of work, particularly in the Champions League, and I wanted to bring in some decent competition," Muscat explained.

And what of Sanchez's prospects of playing? At 30, he is younger than both Valeri and Milligan, and with his pedigree – he was also part of the Argentina squad alongside Angel Di Maria and Sergio Aguero who won the 2007 Under 20 World Cup – he looks to have plenty to recommend him.

"They (new foreigners in their first season in Australia) need time. He will need time here. Normally they all get here and it just is so different for them, the style, the pitch, the climate, the travel.

"He will need time, but he is going well and we have got a good atmosphere and spirit in the side

"He could play at right back, centre back, or as a box-to-box midfielder, he can do a fair bit and he has played with some serious players earlier in his career."