HIS team hasn't scored in three straight games and he considers Adelaide United to be the A-League's "the best playing team".

But Melbourne City coach John van't Schip is adamant Friday's AAMI Park showdown is not the mismatch it might seem to be on paper.

A knee injury to midfielder Jacob Melling last Sunday means van't Schip will again have to reshuffle the decks, but he was giving little away on Thursday as to who will come in to face the third-placed Reds. Injury dramas notwithstanding, van't Schip is confident City can snap a three-game winless streak and keep tabs on Brisbane Roar in the race for sixth spot.

"It's very crucial, everybody knows," van't Schip said.

"Looking at the results of course we would like to have more points, but the results didn't go our way. (Tonight) we have a new opportunity to play against another good team - I think the best playing team in the league - to show that we're up to it.

"There's always periods in seasons. I remember not that long ago there was 18 games in a row where we scored goals, so we should not make an issue of those things.

"We've had the chances (to score) ... we're creating opportunities, so it's just about having the patience and being more calms at the moments that we get there."

Van't Schip threw up each of Jonatan Germano, Massimo Murdocca, Paulo Retre and Iain Ramsay as potential replacements for Melling.

International marquee player Robert Koren could also shift back to a more familiar attacking midfield role, as opposed to the left wing role he played in the 0-0 draws with Wellington and Perth.

media_camera Melbourne City's Robert Koren is set to be moved from the wing to No. 10.

"Robi can play in different positions," van't Schip said.

"He can play in the midfield as the most attacking player, he can play as a striker as you saw against Newcastle (when he scored a hat-trick) and he can play a free role from one of the sides.

"For him it's not really a problem, so looking at our team at the moment with the injuries we have he's adapting to different positions, it's the way it is.

"He's coping very good with it, but also Robi knows that he can bring more and he's eager to show that his talent is there."