Brisbane Roar veteran Danny Tiatto is remaining cautious as injury threatens to end his career prematurely. The 36-year old has been suffering with a long-term hamstring/back problem and knows that he must be careful in order to play out the final season of a brilliant career.

"The bottom line is I can't afford even a tear because that would the end of the line for me," the tough midfielder said.

"I've had the issue plaguing me on-and-off for two years or so, I'm working a lot with our physio Tony Ganter and I'm aiming to be able to play longer than 45 minutes on it.

"It's a difficult one to manage and if it went again I would be done and dusted and forced out of the game for good.

"That (through injury) is not how I want to leave the game. This is my last season and I want to go out on a high note on my own terms."

Tiatto began his professional career in 1992 with the Bulleen Lions before moving to the Melbourne Knights.

He then travelled abroad, joining Italian club Salernitana in 1996 then moving onto Switzerland with Swiss club FC Baden.

The former Socceroo then embarked on the most successful stint of his career joining English club Stoke City on loan before spending six years with Manchester City, featuring in England's top flight.

He departed the City of Manchester Stadium in the summer of 2007, joining Leicester City and then returned home to round out his distinguished career in the A-League with the Roar.