Soccer: Melbourne Victory happy with low-key title defence start

Leigh Broxham of the Victory is pressured by Adam Kwasnik of the Mariners. Photo / Getty Images

MELBOURNE - Melbourne Victory coach Ernie Merrick is delighted other A-League clubs are hogging the limelight, allowing his own side to begin their championship defence without fanfare.

The Victory kick off the fifth season against Central Coast at Etihad Stadium on Thursday night.

With much of the public attention directed towards the two new clubs - particularly some bold predictions from the Gold Coast - and their big-name signings Robbie Fowler (North Queensland) and Jason Culina (Gold Coast), Melbourne have slipped along quietly.

But, as far as Merrick is concerned, no news has been good news.

For the first time in their history, the Victory will enter an A-League season without any players under an injury cloud and with star striker Archie Thompson having completed an uninterrupted pre-season.

They have also been able to keep almost their entire championship squad intact, the one notable exception being the loss of goalkeeper Michael Theoklitos, replaced by New Zealand national keeper Glenn Moss.

"We've flown under the radar for all the right reasons," Merrick said on Wednesday.

"It's an exciting new start really, we've got two new teams and to see the number of international Socceroos and others coming back to play, it's first-class and that's where the focus has been."

While other clubs have been much busier on the recruiting front, such as Perth signing Socceroos trio Jacob Burns, Mile Sterjovski and Chris Coyne, Merrick is confident Melbourne will not slip off the pace.

"If we hadn't won the pre-season cup, the premier's plate and the championship, then yes," he said.

"But we had a team last year that won everything and we re-signed nearly all of them ... we feel as though our consistency has been a big plus for us."

Asked if that made Melbourne the team to beat, Merrick lightheartedly nominated Gold Coast in that role on the basis of their billionaire backer Clive Palmer's claim that they could go through their inaugural season undefeated.

More seriously, he was happy for other clubs to take centre stage.

"I don't think we're ever going to have underdog status, but when the limelight's on other clubs I think it's such a good thing," he said.

He expects an immediate test of his side's credentials against the Mariners, strengthened by the signings of Chris Doig and Shane Huke from English lower divisions and ex-Celtic player Michael McGlinchey.

"The Mariners are a tough, very competitive team, and they've also got good skill ... we've just got to concentrate on the way we play and we're playing really good football."

- AAP