Australia international Matthew Kemp has been ruled out for nine months after the defender ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in Melbourne Victory's 2-0 win over North Queensland Fury on Friday.

The 29-year-old suffered the injury just one minute into the game and the results of an MRI scan confirmed today that Kemp will need reconstructive surgery. Consequently he will be unable to take part in Victory's AFC Champions League campaign but should return midway through the 2010/11 A-League season.

For Victory it means they will be forced to take a weakened side into their minor premiership decider with Sydney FC on Sunday with the club already without the injured Archie Thompson and suspended skipper Kevin Muscat.

"Every year, there are always challenges that arise, whether you are on a bad run or you lose players or whatever," said Victory coach Ernie Merrick. "We've actually made a point of highlighting the fact that we don't want any excuses for losing matches. It's been a bit of a mantra this year, 'Don't find any excuse to lose a game'."