The Hyundai A-League's off-season transfer business continues to heat up with three potentially influential new signings sealed on a busy Tuesday.
Newcastle Jets, Melbourne City and Perth Glory all announced exciting arrivals that will have a big say on their title ambitions.
But with the margins appearing finer than ever between rival squads, how will the trio fit into their new surrounds?
We assess the readiness of each player hoping to make an instant impact.
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Jair (Newcastle Jets)
Ernie Merrick, in keeping with his calm demeanour, did not rush into signing a new striker despite admitting depth in the position is essential to the club "achieving anything" in the upcoming campaign.
The eight-game suspension Roy O'Donovan will serve at the start of the season left Newcastle thin on options to lead the line and searching for experienced firepower.
In versatile Brazilian forward Jair, Merrick may just have unearthed the player to tick all the boxes.
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Hard-working but with a certain spark to his game, the 30-year-old arrives armed with a resume furnished by prolific spells at K. League clubs Jeju United and Jeonnam Dragons.
His know-how in Asia adds another layer of sense to the deal in view of the club's involvement in the AFC Champions League next year, where subtlety and variety will be required to unlock opposition defences.
The query over Jair is, given he has not played since March, how quickly he can get up to speed with Jets' high-octane, free-flowing attacking style.
O'Donovan needed no grace period last term, netting seven times before December as Newcastle built early momentum that carried them right through to the Grand Final.
But with a nose for goal and ability to operate in a number of roles, Jair appears to have all the tools to serve as a fine foil for star playmakers Dimitri Petratos and Ronald Vargas.
Mark Birighitti (Melbourne City)
Following formative spells with Swansea City and NAC Breda, Mark Birighitti has called new home Melbourne City the "perfect fit" for this stage of the career.
The merits of returning from Europe will still have taken some convincing and the number one shirt he modelled upon Tuesday's announcement suggests some assurances are involved.
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He will have to see off former Adelaide United team-mate Eugene Galekovic for the chance to replace Dean Bouzanis but, at 27 and with a Caltex Socceroos cap to his credit, Birighitti seems to bound to don the gloves for City on a long-term basis.
That much is sure to become a certainty if the ex-Newcastle Jets shot-stopper recaptures the excellent form he displayed in the Hyundai A-League three seasons ago.
So too will his hopes be boosted of breaking back into the national team, a possible by-product of the regular games that should come under Warren Joyce.
Of the four goalkeepers selected in the Antalya training camp, only Mat Ryan is younger than Birighitti.
Motivated, sharpened by European experience and of proven quality in the competition, City have neatly slotted into place another piece of the trophy puzzle.
Chris Ikonomidis (Perth Glory)
Few young Australians can claim to share the depth of experience Chris Ikonomidis has gleaned at such an early juncture in his career.
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The 23-year-old has signed on with Perth Glory after nearly six full seasons spent cutting his teeth in Italy and, briefly, Denmark.
Latterly, a sparkling loan spell at Western Sydney Wanderers that brought three goals in nine starts proved to Australian audiences just why his thrilling potential has long been highly regarded within the national team setup.
Tony Popovic, who knows a thing or two about international football, could be the man to make full use of the attacking midfielder's talents.
As he trials a 3-4-3 system in pre-season, the new Glory boss looks likely to unite Ikonomidis, Andy Keogh and Diego Castro in a front three that could become the most watchable in the Hyundai A-League.
Ikonomidis, comfortable in either wide or central positions, will be expected to both create and supply goals in a side seeking to entertain.
The lessons he gained from Atalanta and Lazio could also add significant value to the development of Jacob Italiano and myriad other young prospects lurking within Glory's impressive youth team.
If that kind of mentorship can be allied to consistent, mature performances that seem entirely possible at an improving Perth, Ikonomidis could become the standout star of a raft of headline acts arriving in the Hyundai A-League.
