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Brisbane Roar coach Robbie Fowler has lauded Melbourne City striker Jamie Maclaren ahead of the ex-Roar star's return to Suncorp Stadium.

The goalscoring form of Socceroos striker Jamie Maclaren hasn't gone unnoticed by Brisbane Roar coach Robbie Fowler.

One of the greatest strikers of the Premier League era, Fowler admits his team has to be on top of their game in Saturday's A-League clash with Melbourne City to prevent Maclaren returning to haunt his former club.

Maclaren is equal top of the 2019-20 goalscoring charts along with Sydney FC's Adam Le Fondre with 12 goals in nine games for City this season.

That tally includes a hat-trick against the Roar when the two teams met earlier this season at Redcliffe's Dolphin Stadium.

Maclaren had put City 3-1 up in that match before being substituted, with the Roar storming back to claim a memorable 4-3 win for Fowler's first league victory as Brisbane coach.

"He's an excellent player. I think you look at his goals per game this year, he's a threat whatever time he's on the pitch," Fowler, who scored 163 Premier League goals in his playing career, said.

"I've got to be honest, was I happy when he was off the pitch? Of course I was.

"We'll do the work that we need and we require to try and keep him quiet. It'll be tough, but we've got to have players who are on top of their game."

Maclaren, who spent two seasons with the Roar before moving to Europe in 2017, has scored 20 goals from 27 A-League matches at Suncorp Stadium.

Roar midfielder Jacob Pepper said stopping the service to Maclaren had been a big part of the home team's preparations for the contest.

"We've worked on that at training. Blocking the lines. Especially to the forward's feet and that second runner, their number eight," he said.

"We've worked on it, we've just got to implement it tomorrow."

Both teams have lost players to Olyroos duty, including Roar duo Aiden O'Neill and Connor O'Toole, and City's Connor Metcalfe, Denis Genreau and Tom Glover.

City coach Erick Mombaerts is also facing a defensive headache with Harrison Delbridge suspended and Austrian Richard Windbichler injured.

"The good news is that Lachie Wales is able to play, he got an ankle injury but he recovered and trained," Mombaerts said.

KEY MATCH STATS

* Brisbane have won 10 of 15 matches against Melbourne City at Suncorp Stadium with City's last win at the venue in February 2018.

* Melbourne City's last four A-League matches outside Victoria have resulted in 19 goals, including the 4-3 loss to Brisbane at Redcliffe in round six.

* The Roar are chasing back-to-back wins for the first time in Robbie Fowler's reign as coach.