Blackburn manager Paul Ince says Vince Grella will make his English Premier League debut against West Ham on Saturday provided the Socceroo midfielder receives his international clearance in time.
Grella signed a four-year deal with Rovers this week after a STG4 million ($A8.48 million) transfer move from Italian club Torino, but was still awaiting the final few pieces of paperwork to begin his EPL career.
"We're still waiting for his international clearance to come through from Italy," Paul Ince said.
"I'm not sure on the timescale on that but hopefully we'll get it done ... so he can travel with us on Friday afternoon fingers crossed.
"He'll certainly be coming as part of the squad but if we do get his clearance through he'll definitely be involved somewhere down the line."
Fellow Socceroo star Brett Emerton was delighted to have another Australian in the ranks at Rovers following Lucas Neill's departure to West Ham last year.
Neill is again set to line-up in defence for the Hammers against his former club at Upton Park.
"We played together for quite some time," Emerton said of Grella.
"From the under 17 Australian teams all the way to the full national team.
"Vince is a fantastic player, more of a defensive midfielder, and again I think he is going to bring something to this team and be a major asset for us."
Ince admits his first trip back to West Ham as a manager is the game of the season for him.
The former England midfielder launched his illustrious playing career at Upton Park, and insists it is a bigger occasion than facing Manchester United or Liverpool - his other two former clubs.
"I looked at the fixtures and noticed straight away that West Ham away was the third game in," said Ince, who was appointed Blackburn manager this season after cutting his teeth managing Macclesfield and Milton Keynes Dons in the lower leagues.
"The trip to Upton Park was the one that stood out to me for some reason, I can't think why!
"Not long ago I was looking at the fixtures and thinking about Darlington and Rochdale - no disrespect to them.
"Now here I am looking at when we are going to be playing against Manchester United and Chelsea - and West Ham, of course."
Ince, though, can expect a mixed reception from West Ham fans with long memories.
He made his name at the London club, but the manner of his one-million-pound move to Manchester United in 1989 still rankles with some West Ham supporters, and it could be a long 90 minutes for the 40-year-old stood in the technical area in front of the main stand at the Boleyn Ground.
Hammers fans still remember how Ince was pictured in a United shirt before the deal was done 19 years ago, the photograph appearing in a national newspaper.
Ince received hateful abuse from West Ham United fans for many years afterwards.
Ince's Premier League managerial career has certainly started brightly with four points from the first two games, including an eye-catching 3-2 win at Everton on the opening day of the season.
In contrast, West Ham have endured a mixed start.
Despite defeating Wigan Athletic 2-1 in their first game, they were soundly beaten 3-0 at Manchester City last weekend after being reduced to 10 men following the first half dismissal of Mark Noble.
