Powerful striker Aleksandar Prijovic will return to bolster Western United's attack against Wellington Phoenix as John Aloisi attempts to kickstart his A-League Men title defence.
Prijovic, the Joe Marston Medallist in last season's grand final, hasn't played all season due to a toe injury but will return at Sky Stadium on Sunday.
The 32-year-old scored 13 goals in 27 games last season.
"He's available to play," Aloisi told reporters.
"He's been training really well and he can't wait to get back out on the field and the pitch to help the boys, help us.
"He's raring to go. It's a massive boost for us as a team, as a club, that one of our marquees is back."
Aloisi wouldn't confirm whether Prijovic would start or come off the bench.
United have picked up just one point from their opening five matches and will hope their trip to Wellington can spark a victory heading into the World Cup break.
"We know that we'll turn this around and having our senior players does make a big difference," Aloisi said.
There have been rumours both Prijovic and out-of-form central defender Leo Lacroix are eyeing the exit door in January.
Aloisi confirmed Prijovic had an off-season offer to return to Europe which fell through but said his recent absence was only through injury.
United are still without injured pair Tomoki Imai and Steven Lustica while Nikolai Topor-Stanley will serve the second game of his two-match suspension.
Wellington counterpart Ufuk Talay was wary of the wounded United.
"We should never underestimate Western United," Talay told reporters.
"We've analysed the games that they've played and they haven't played bad football.
"They haven't been clinical in the top half, and they've been a little bit sloppy with individual errors in front of their own goal, (but) they're still a very good side.
"They've still got some good quality experienced players and they'll still be dangerous with the pacy players they have up front so it's not going to be an easy game.
"They're probably hurting a lot. They're last year's champions and they're probably sitting where they thought they wouldn't be sitting after five rounds."
