Kruse has yet to feature competitively for Victory since suffering a hamstring injury in August.

Kurz said while Victory had taken a cautious approach to the injury-prone winger, he expected Kruse to have an impact throughout the season.

"He is on a good way, he's not 100 per cent in the team sessions but step by step he's coming back," Kurz told reporters on Tuesday.

"We must be careful, he's not ready to play from the first game as a starter but I think we will have a lot of fun with Robbie the whole season."

Were Kruse to feature in the Melbourne derby, it would be off the bench - but Kurz said he needed to train with the team for at least two weeks to be available for selection.

Given Kruse's injury, Kurz said it would make "no sense" to see the 30-year-old called up in the upcoming FIFA window, but expected him to push for selection in future Socceroos squads.

Victory is set to be without Kenny Athiu (South Sudan) in round one, while Andrew Nabbout and Thomas Deng could earn Socceroos call-ups.

"I think it is difficult for all of us coaches in Australia that the season starts in a FIFA window," Kurz said.

"I was a little bit surprised but I must make the best out of the decision from the FFA."