Melbourne City's COVID carnage has continued with the other four players contracting the virus this week.
With several matches postponed over the Christmas period when all five members of their A-League men's squad were found to have COVID, the latest cases deal a new blow to the Nationals.
Ahead of Saturday night's tour of Adelaide United, City coach Patrick Kisnorbo did not name which four players caught the bug this week, but said they were important members of the team.
He said the side was "closer" to each member having COVID.
"It's going to go around - it's only a matter of time. We're doing our best to keep the boys as healthy as possible, and as diligent as possible to prepare for the games to come," he said.
“We are doing our best at the moment, it is very difficult to get into the rhythm when players are still contracting the virus. This is the current world we live in, we understand it but we try to adapt to the conditions. What we are facing at the moment."
They will also miss defender Curtis Good due to the lingering effects of COVID.
The absence complicates an already difficult fixture for City, who are battling a Reds side that put up a formidable fight against Melbourne Victory last Saturday.
City have slipped in their last two encounters, most recently in a 3-3 draw with Western Sydney on Sunday.
"We've done a lot in sports to show that we have some strength, and if we just keep doing what we do and keep following our procedures (the results will improve)," Kisnorbo said.
"That's what we believe in and that's what we will do. We're creating a lot of opportunities in the right areas."
United showed character to pinch the road 1-1 at Melbourne Victory on Saturday night, before a goal by Craig Goodwin in the 91st minute was dismissed by VAR.
Adelaide are seventh in the ALM table, beating Wellington 4–0 on New Year's Day, despite having won just one this campaign.