Stefan Mauk is relishing the prospect of re-igniting his career under John Aloisi at Brisbane Roar.
The 22-year-old returned to Australia last month, ending a two-year stint at Eredivisie outfit NEC Nijmegen in which he made just three first-team appearances.
VOTE: FFA Cup 2018 Goal of the Year
Mauk will make his first competitive appearance for the Roar in tomorrow night’s FFA Cup clash against former employers Melbourne City.
It’s the first chance for the Adelaide-born playmaker to show why he'll be a force in Brisbane colours under the former Caltex Socceroo's tutelage.
“For the way I want to play football his style is perfect really,” he told Brisbane Roar’s official website.
“It’s all possession based, every drill that we do in training has been with the ball, even in preseason.
“The main reason I came here was to work with John and be part of a successful team.
“I think he’s recruited really well with the club and I’m really excited to get around running and to take that next step. That’s what John wants from me and what I want from myself.”
Mauk is one of several new arrivals who have sparked a surge of enthusiasm around Roar ahead of tomorrow night's clash with City.
The FFA Cup curtain raiser at Redcliffe's Dolphin Stadium could also provide highly anticipated debuts for ex-Perth man Adam Taggart and Danish veteran Toby Mikkelsen.
Mauk cited Roar's new striking duo and French playmaker Eric Bautheac as players he's looking forward to developing combinations with.
“Being in the front third working with Eric, now Toby coming in and Taggs [Adam Taggart] coming back to fitness as well, I think it’s good to get to know them well and the link up play.
"Hopefully they’re the ones that I can assist or they can assist me, so it’s good to know them."
Brisbane enter tomorrow night’s encounter with City full of confidence having claimed three wins from three pre-season games.
Aloisi says his squad is looking forward to the first competitive action of the season, and welcomes the fresh slate that the FFA Cup provides.
READ: FFA Cup can ignite our season: Bautheac
“I think that we're progressing nicely in pre-season," said the Brisbane coach.
"The boys are getting to gel with each other, the new signings are understanding their teammates and fitness-wise we're at a decent level.
“It will be a little bit different to last season because we've got a few new players, but we've got players that we believe will improve our side and give us the best possible opportunity of winning this year.
“We want to win every game and every competition that we enter ad the first one’s tomorrow night.
Gates open on at Redcliffe's Dolphin Stadium on Tuesday night at 6:15pm, with kick off scheduled for 7:30pm.
You can catch all the action live & online with Fox Sports, who will be broadcasting each round of the FFA Cup 2018 competition.
MATCH DETAILS
FFA Cup 2018 Round of 32 - Brisbane Roar v Melbourne City
Tuesday, 7 August 2018. Kick-off 7:30pm
Dolphin Stadium, Redcliffe
