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Oct 02, 2012   |  7:56PM AET

Leijer anticipating goals

Leijer anticipating goals

Melbourne Victory captain Adrian Leijer is expecting plenty of goals when his side take on cross-town rivals Melbourne Heart in the Hyundai A-League season opener at Etihad Stadium on Friday night.

Melbourne Victory captain Adrian Leijer is expecting plenty of goals when his side take on cross-town rivals Melbourne Heart in the Hyundai A-League season opener at Etihad Stadium on Friday night.

Victory may have lost their two leading goalscorers from last season in Harry Kewell and Carlos Hernandez, but Leijer believes their new squad have plenty of players capable of finding the back of the net.

Veteran striker Archie Thompson remains a proficient player in front of goal, while the addition of former Johnny Warren medallist Marcos Flores and Brazilian Guilherme Finkler gives new coach Ange Postecoglou plenty of options in attack.

“Archie has been around a long time and is a proven goalscorer, so we know we are going to get goals out of him,” Leijer said.

“But a guy like Marco Rojas, he had a bit of a quite year last year, but I think he is one that has looked pretty exciting during pre-season.

“Then we have got Finkler and Flores in behind them who will provide a lot of opportunities for those guys.

“So we have got a very attacking line up and hopefully that excites the fans.”

Leijer said there was no better game to start the season than a home derby in front of a huge crowd and the 26-year-old is hoping to see more Victory fans in the packed stadium than Heart supporters.

“It is an exciting game at any time of year and the boys are looking forward to it,” he said.

“It is probably the biggest game in the A-League and to establish ourselves and to let everybody know the A-League is back.

“We love our fans and especially when they are making noise.

“I think even the Heart boys enjoy the atmosphere that is created on the night from both sets of fans.

“It is an exciting occasion for football and let-s hope it is a good game.”

Leijer said Postecoglou had already made a tremendous impact at Victory and that he can already feel something special building at the club.

“The culture he has been creating at the club is exciting for us as players as we know we are going to get better under him,” he said.

“As a group we know we can have success under him if we adapt to what he wants us to do.

“It is exciting times for the football club and hopefully we can do the job on the field where it matters.”