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Melbourne Victory have a skeleton staff in South Korea this week, with key players and people back home to prepare for their A-League semi-final.
Melbourne Victory coach Kevin Muscat says the decision to leave a full starting side of experienced players at home for this week's Asian Champions League clash was a no brainer.
With an A-League championship to defend, and a place in the grand final up for grabs in Sunday's Big Blue, it's hard to disagree.
"It was an easy decision," he told AAP from South Korea.
"I've left trustworthy staff members back in Melbourne so players could recover from the contest on Friday night and start preparations for Sunday's game."
Keisuke Honda, Georg Niedermeier, Leigh Broxham, Terry Antonis, Kosta Barbarouses, James Troisi, Ola Toivonen, Raul Baena, Lawrence Thomas, Carl Valeri, and Anthony Lesiotis remain in Melbourne.
Muscat said all had pulled up fine from their 3-1 win over Wellington Phoenix in Friday's physical clash.
Troisi, who missed the win with a hamstring issue, is on track to prove his fitness for Sunday's match at Jubilee Stadium as Muscat leads a skeleton squad of 15 against Daegu FC.
Victory have no chance of progression in Asia after failing to win their opening four games in the group stage.
Muscat insisted that didn't mean nothing was on the line on Wednesday night, suggesting finals places and playing contracts most definitely were.
"We've got something to play for ... we get an opportunity to field some younger players and see what they're like in an environment with a little bit of pressure," he said.
"It's a good test, a good opportunity for Josh Hope, Corey Brown, Storm Roux, Rahmat Akbari, Kenny Athiu to stand up, really stand up.
"Not only for the remainder of the season but for for their futures also."
On Victory's last visit to South Korea, they were handed their biggest ACL defeat; a 6-2 thrashing to Ulsan Hyundai last year.
As it happens, Ulsan will host Sydney FC on Tuesday night and Muscat plans to make the short trip to see his A-League rivals in action.
Unlike Victory, the Sky Blues can still progress to the knockout rounds and are expected to field a strong side.
"Hopefully me being there puts them off," he joked.
