IT IS not the way Matthew Kemp, after two knee surgeries, wanted to win back his spot in a team in which he was once an automatic selection.

But after cooling his heels on the sidelines for the early part of the season, the Melbourne Victory defender yesterday declared he was not planning on meekly giving up his spot once youngster Matthew Foschini finished serving his two-game suspension.

Victory's Matthew Kemp (right) tries to kick the ball away from Joshua Rose of the Central Coast Mariners in a round 6 game on November 12. Credit:Getty Images

Kemp was recalled last week to the underperforming team to help fill the hole left by the enforced absence of Foschini, who will not be eligible to return until the round 10 game against Adelaide United, and the 31-year-old, coming on as a substitute, played his part in the 0-0 draw with Central Coast.

Now cleared of the knee problems, Kemp aims to play out the season and hit peak form in time for the finals. ''It's not the way I wanted to get my chance. I'd like to have earned my spot, but having said I'll take any chance that I can get and I've got that now and I'm not going to be giving it back to him in a hurry,'' said Kemp, who admitted he had been a frustrated spectator as he remained out of Mehmet Durakovic's plans earlier in the season.

Kemp's initial injury came in early 2010, when just two months after winning Socceroos selection his knee gave way in a match at Etihad Stadium and required reconstruction.

Kemp said he had full confidence in the rebuilt knee and only needed to work on match fitness. ''The more games I play the better I'm going to get … and come [the] end of the season if I've played 20 odd games I think I'm just going to keep improving so hopefully I'll be hitting my straps by finals time.''

Victory plays Perth Glory on Sunday at Etihad Stadium.