Ricardinho to face Mariners

Brazilian Ricardinho is set to take a place in Melbourne Victory's squad for Friday's clash with the Mariners after receiving a last-minute clearance to play.

Melbourne had been sweating on an international transfer clearance for the 26-year-old, who signed on as the club's international marquee a fortnight ago.

The process has taken more time than Victory would have liked and coach Ernie Merrick said earlier in the week that so impressive had he been by Ricardinho's work in training, he would come into the squad as soon as the clearance was received.

Victory decided to take Ricardinho to Gosford with them ahead of the match in case the clearance came through and at about 5:30pm on match eve, the word came through that he was available to play in this match.

He will start on the bench in Friday night's match, with one of the 16-man squad who travelled to drop out.