Adelaide United FC captain Travis Dodd will miss Friday night's blockbuster against Sydney FC at Hindmarsh Stadium with a calf injury. Dodd has been struck down with a left calf strain, which he did against Perth Glory last Friday night during his 100th Hyundai A-League appearance, the injury sidelining him for The Reds' highly anticipated match against the top of the table Sydney FC.

The midfielder missed United's round 4 and 5 matches due to a right calf problem, and this time he has succumbed to a left calf strain.

"It was probably five or ten minutes into the second half against Perth, I just went to push off to chase for a ball with one of the Perth players and I just felt it tighten up and I knew after the game with how it felt, that it was similar to when I did it before to the other calf," Dodd said.

In a career that has seen him miss just two games through injury in his 100 Hyundai A-League appearances, Dodd is upset at not to being able to lead The Reds out for a match that has become a crucial home encounter.

However the 29 year old, who has been capped for the Qantas Socceroos, is optimistic that he will be available for the match against Melbourne Victory at Etihad Stadium on Saturday week (24 October 2009).

"I'm disappointed that I'm not going to be out there on Friday night. It's a really important game for us, Sydney are doing really well, and it would have been good to get out there and help the boys onto victory," Dodd said.

"As it turns out I'll hopefully only miss one week and be back for the Melbourne game."

It is uncertain how Coach Aurelio Vidmar will cover Dodd's absence, with Brazilian winger Alemao, Korean midfielder Inseob Shin and exciting young prospect Mathew Leckie all possible replacements.

Vice-Captain Lucas Pantelis, who missed the match with Perth due to knee soreness, is also a chance of returning, while Paul Reid and Michael Marrone are still expected to be another week from being available, despite both rejoining the main group at training this week.