(Transcript from World News Australia Radio)
The A-League kicks off again on Friday, offering what could be the highest level of football yet seen in the nine years of the competition.
A bevy of top players will be pushing for national team selection ahead of the World Cup next year in Brazil, whilst others will have their eyes firmly focused on the A-League title.
Darren Mara takes a look at five players who are likely to light up the league this season.
Alessando Del Piero
Starting at the top, what can be said about the man nicknamed "Il Fenomeno Vero" or "The True Phenomenon" that hasn't already been said?
Alessandro Del Piero brought class and finesse to the A-League when he signed for Sydney FC ahead of last season.
The Juventus great and 2006 World Cup winner may be 38 years old, but his touch, his flare, his nouse and his eye for goal have attracted Australian football fans in their tens-of-thousands.
His uncanny ability on the ball helped salvage Sydney FC's season when at one stage it looked like the club might finish with the wooden spoon.
Last season was undoubtedly one of tumult for the Sky Blues - what with coach Ian Crook stepping down after six rounds.
But Del Piero, who's recently been named Sydney FC captain, will be aiming to bring stability back to the squad.
At his unveiling as captain, the Italian vowed to lead Sydney to the finals.
"I want to do the best for myself in this role and help the team in every single situation, inside the dressing room, outside the dressing room and especially in the field. Only together can we win a game. Only together can we win a title."
Harry Kewell
Another high-profile player to keep an eye on this season will be Harry Kewell, who's returned to the A-League with Melbourne Heart.
Kewell hasn't been seen much since his departure from cross-town rivals Melbourne Victory 12 months ago.
He managed three games for Qatari club Al-Gharafa before signing with Heart, and seems most concerned now with giving his flagging international career one more spin around the block.
He may be 35 years old, but don't write off the man voted Australia's greatest footballer - he earned that title for a good reason: Liverpool, Galatasaray, two World Cups and almost 60 caps for the national team.
He's all class.
And with a third World Cup just over the horizon expect big things from Harry Kewell this season - fitness permitting.
The veteran striker says he's settling in well at Heart, which has named him club captain.
"The team's been good. They've accepted me straight away which is fanstastic and once you do get accepted by the players it's a lot easier to fit straight into your football. I believe that when you're our there it's not only me that's the captain. We have a whole squad full of leaders and I believe that we need to go out there and all be captains on the day."
And from a Socceroos veteran to a national team aspirant.
Tomi Juric
22-year-old Tomi Juric will be looking to make a splash this season after signing with A-League premiers Western Sydney Wanderers after a brief spell at Adelaide United.
Juric had previously been playing in Croatia with Croatia Sesvete, Lokomotiva and NK Inter Zapresic.
Some were surprised when the Sydney-born striker was selected by Socceroos boss Holger Osieck for the East Asian Cup in South Korea in July.
But Juric justified his selection with a goal against Japan, and has garnered comparisons with another famous Croatian-Australian footballer, Mark Viduka.
Juric holds the ball up well and is most effective when used as a nine or a ten.
He's also known for his pace and should revel in playing in front of Shinji Ono, Aaron Mooy and Youssouf Hersi at the Wanderers.
Juric says his primary focus will be on performing for his club - any Socceroos selection for Brazil can only be built on that.
"Hopefully in these next 10 months leadings up to the World Cup I can show Holger enough that I'm close enough or good enough to be in the squad for the World Cup. That's definitely motivation, definitely a dream for me."
Matt Spiranovic
Joining Tomi Juric at the Wanderers is another World Cup hopeful in Matt Spiranovic.
"Spira" as he's known was touted as a natural successor to Lucas Neill in central defence for the Socceroos, bt he's struggled to get top league game time in recent seasons.
Capped 16 times, Spiranovic hasn't featured in the national team setup since appearing in a World Cup qualifier against Iraq almost a year ago.
After time at Nuremberg in Germany and three seasons at Urawa Reds in Japan, the 25-year-old made a surprise move to the Middle East last year.
He only made 12 appearances for Al-Arabi before signing with the Wanderers, where he says he's hopeful of performing at his peak.
"The A-League is a tough league with the quality of players here and the Wanderers have now qualified for the ACL (Asian Champions League). I'm sure if I'm good enough to perform here, I'll be ready for the World Cup next year, from my performances on the field and obviously being fit and healthy than that'll be the rights steps to make."
Spiranovic will be competing for one of two central defensive roles with club captain Michael Beauchamp and vice captain Nikolai Topor-Stanley.
Wanderers coach Tony Popovic says the competition for spots should make for some solid defensive performances.
"He adds first and foremost quality and he's a player who wants to go to the World Cup. We've got two other centre backs who'd love to go to the World Cup as well. So we're very pleased to have him and we're sure his qualities will be shown throughout the year."
Matt McKay
One man who's expected to feature prominently for his club this season and for the Socceroos in Brazil will be Brisbane Roar's Matt McKay.
The 30-year midfielder returns to Queensland after three mixed seasons in Scotland, South Korea and China.
McKay has made a name for himself at club level as a left midfielder who gets up in attack and is a provider of crosses and jinking runs down the left touchline.
He's also nifty with the ball at his feet in and around the box and is an offensive asset to any side.
McKay's been told by Holger Osieck he needs to be playing regularly to be assured a place on the plane to Brazil.
McKay says that's why he's returned to Australia, where he feels he'll be under a brighter spotlight.
"It's important to be playing regularly but you've got to be playing well. I was in Asia the last two seasons and I was playing regularly but you're just not seen there and you're not challenged enough. I find being in Australia you're under a lot more scrutiny and you want to do well for your club and I think if you can prove yourself and if your team is doing well and if you've got a great squad it will help individuals in their goals, where ever that may be, going to a World Cup or making a youth national team or progressing in their career. So I think that's important."
The A-League season begins on October 11 when Sydney FC takes on Newcastle Jets at the Sydney Football Stadium.
Kick off is at 7.30 pm.
A-League matches will be broadcast live from 7 pm on Friday nights on SBS 2 and SBS Radio 3.
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