Melbourne Victory midfielder Carlos Hernandez has been on international duty for Costa Rica this week and is a doubtful starter for tomorrow night's semi-final return leg. Hernandez is expected to land in Melbourne tomorrow morning after the World cup qualifier against Honduras yesterday but the club is uncertain how they will use him at the Telstra Dome.

"We have to plan for Carlos not being available," coach Ernie Merrick said yesterday.

"So we're looking at other options up front and in midfield. The best-case scenario is he will be on the bench.

"Carlos is a very good player," Merrick added.

"He's as fit as he's been since he joined the club, but the travel is the killer with something like 40 hours going from Costa Rica to Dallas to LA and then to Melbourne."