ILLAWARRA look set to face a Melbourne United outfit without skipper Chris Goulding for the second time this season, with coach Dean Vickerman indicating his star is still a week or more away.
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Goulding injured his knee in a double-overtime loss to Perth two weeks ago which saw him sit out his side’s last meeting with the Hawks.
He succumbed to it again in Cairns, missing Monday’ clash with Sydney, and Vickerman said others will need to continue stepping up in his absence.
“We’ve got one practice on Wednesday before we go to Wollongong so he’ll be assessed on Wednesday,” Vickerman said.
“We don’t know when we get him back but it won’t be too far away. I know we’re probably going to be at the end of our heavy patch when we get him back.
“The guys are pushing really hard and to have a fresh body and another weapon to come in is really important. It’s a credit to these guys to go the three games without him so far and picking up those wins.”