Strike power will be the priority for Queensland Roar coach Miron Bleiberg despite MRI scans confirming defender Josh McCloughan will miss six weeks with a groin tear.

McCloughan suffered a 5cm adductor tear late in Queensland's 1-0 A-League upset of Melbourne last Friday night.

But Bleiberg will have attack rather than defence on his mind when he looks for McCloughan's replacement before taking on ladder leader Sydney at Aussie Stadium on Sunday.

In a bid to break the Roar's goal drought, Bleiberg said he would spend this week running the rule over two strikers and an exciting midfielder.

The contenders are ex-Perth dangerman Stuart Young, former Trinidad and Tobago under 23 striker Kevin Nelson and late addition Goran Talevski, direct from Croatian club Hadjuk Split and formerly of ex-NSL clubs Sydney United and Marconi.

Nelson, 26, played professionally in his native Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela and Canada before initially arriving in Australia as a potential replacement for Adelaide's retired midfielder Aurelio Vidmar then linking with Queensland.

Bleiberg said his back-up plan was to sign Scottish-born defender Stuart McLaren if the trio failed to impress.

"We have room (on the player roster) now because of Josh so the priority is to sign a striker - if a striker doesn't work out then Stuart McLaren is the next in line," he said.

Bleiberg said midfielder Talevski had arrived at late notice but he was more than happy to consider the ex-NSL player.

"If the midfielder (Talevski) is as good as another midfielder like Maradona I can accommodate him - if he is half as good as Maradona maybe we can look at him for next year," Bleiberg laughed.

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