EXCLUSIVE: Roar dish out selection bombshell as Maclaren dropped to the bench

Jamie Maclaren has been sensationally benched by Brisbane Roar for Friday night's big clash against Melbourne Victory at AAMI Park.

Jamie Maclaren has been benched for Brisbane Roar's clash with Melbourne Victory Source: Getty Images

The World Game has learned of the dramatic change to the line-up, but it remains to be seen what reasoning Brisbane coach John Aloisi offers publicly for the decision to remove Maclaren from the starting side.

Maclaren has been involved in a well-publicised contract stand-off with the Roar.

The Socceroos striker and the Roar's leading goal-scorer last season, and again so far this season, is off contract at the end of the campaign and has so far rejected the club's bid to re-sign him.

There has been speculation that Maclaren could leave Brisbane during the January transfer window, with several overseas clubs having been suggested as potentially being interested in picking him up.

He is obviously still at the Roar at this stage, but if he does remain there after the transfer window shuts, it is getting hard to picture him staying beyond this season.

Fourth-placed Brisbane desperately need a win to keep the heat on second-placed Victory for all-important top-two spots going into the finals.

The Roar are eight points behind the Victory, who also have a game in hand on them.