Melbourne Victory expect to have Nick D'Agostino at their disposal to face his former side Perth Glory despite rumours of an imminent overseas transfer.
Victory coach Tony Popovic on Friday did little to hose down reports D'Agostino is close to signing with Norwegian club Viking FK, simply saying the striker remained in the mix to line up at Macedonia Park on Saturday.
The 24-year-old is one of half a dozen former Glory players expected to travel west for the game, including attacker Bruno Fornaroli.
"We're delighted that our young players are being looked at by clubs and we're very supportive of them progressing their careers," Popovic said.
"But there's nothing official, and while there's nothing official we plan for Nick to travel to Perth.
"Nick's an emerging talent ... and now we're talking about clubs overseas being interested in him. So it's wonderful news for Nick and for our football club."
Bottom-placed Victory have gone four A-League Men games without a win and will come up against an improved Perth side undefeated at their makeshift home ground.
Ninth-placed Glory scrapped their way to a 2-2 draw with Sydney FC last weekend, leaving them with seven out of a possible nine points from a compressed stretch of three home games in eight days.
"Getting the points that we did out of those games, we did very well," Perth striker David Williams said.
"We know that given a proper schedule, we would be higher up the table. We're a good football team and we've shown that."
Popovic agreed Glory would present a tough challenge on their home deck but said his players were growing in confidence, having looked the more dangerous side late in last weekend's 1-1 draw with Adelaide.
"We had a wonderful chance at the end of the game to win it," he said.
"Hopefully, when we create those chances tomorrow we can put them away and get the three points."
Tomi Juric, Roderick Miranda and Cadete are all in the mix to return for Victory, who will be without Rai Marchan due to concussion protocols.
Popovic said the club was still hopeful the transfer window would produce a replacement for marquee recruit Luis Nani, who faces surgery after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament this month.
Perth hope to welcome back star attacker Salim Khelifi for next week's away game against Wellington, while fringe Socceroos striker Adam Taggart is closing in on his first appearance since returning to his old club.
