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AAP
AAP
Sport
Anna Harrington

Date, rules locked in for resumed ALM Melbourne derby

A bleeding Tom Glover of Melbourne City is led away after a pitch invasion at AAMI Park. (Will Murray/AAP PHOTOS) (AAP)

Melbourne Victory and Melbourne City will be able to field any of their registered players when they resume the A-League Men derby that was ruined by a violent pitch invasion.

The Australian Professional Leagues (APL) confirmed on Thursday the game will be restarted at the 22-minute mark at AAMI Park on Wednesday, April 5.

The round-eight derby on December 17 was abandoned after just 21 minutes when Victory fans stormed the AAMI Park pitch during an emotion-charged fixture amid protests against the A-Leagues' controversial decision to play grand finals in Sydney for the next three years.

City goalkeeper Tom Glover suffered concussion and lacerations to the face when hit with a metal bucket.

Referee Alex King was also injured, while a television cameraman was hurt when struck by a flare.

The drama cast a dark shadow over last-placed Victory's horror campaign, with $550,000 in fines and crowd restrictions among the sanctions handed down by Football Australia.

The threat of a 10-point deduction - to be imposed if there is further crowd trouble within the next three and a half seasons - still hangs over the club.

It makes sense for both teams to be able to change their line-ups because several players have either left their clubs or are injured or out of favour.

Victory's Nani (ACL tear) and Jake Brimmer (meniscus) are out injured, while striker Nick D'Agostino has moved to Norway.

City's star Socceroo Mathew Leckie (hamstring) is sidelined for at least another month, while midfielder Taras Gomulka has moved to Brisbane Roar.

Any yellow or red cards and substitutions from the original fixture would have stood, but there weren't any.

The match will restart with the clock at 21.00 with City leading 1-0 courtesy of Aiden O'Neill's goal in the 11th minute.

Play will start with a drop ball to the City goalkeeper, expected to be Glover.

City will defend the northern goal, with Victory defending the southern goal.

Additional time will only be calculated from the 22nd minute onwards.

Both teams can make up to five substitutions at three opportunities (not including half-time).

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