Matt Thompson, the A-League's record-holder for appearances with 203, expects to find out next week whether his career in the competition will be extended with Wellington Phoenix.
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Thompson, who was cut by Melbourne Heart at the end of last season, is in the middle of a trial with Phoenix after its coach, Ernie Merrick, contacted him through the player's manager last Friday.
After linking up with Phoenix in Sydney on Tuesday, Thompson played in the 2-1 loss to Western Sydney Wanderers at Seven Hills on Wednesday and
will go around again for against the Jets in Newcastle on Saturday.
Thompson, normally a midfielder or defender, played further forward than he normally would against the Wanderers as Merrick took into account his lack of match practice.
"I got 25 minutes off the bench," Thompson said. "It was good. It was my first hit-out since the last game I played last season.
"I gave Ernie the heads up about what's been happening with me for the last few months and he put me in the number 10 position just to give me a bit of a free role and have a breather when I needed. It was a good hit-out.
"I think Ernie has in mind more of a defensive role in the midfield, if he does sign me, but I'm not sure what his plans are for the Newcastle game."
Thompson, who turned 31 last Sunday, has been living in Brisbane and training with Roar. That club had informed him some time ago that it wasn't in a position to offer him a contract, but was allowing him to work out with the team to keep fit.
He and his wife, Leslie, were staying with her family while awaiting the birth of their second child, and Thompson had been negotiating to continue his career with a club in Asia. He says a switch to Asia is still an option.
"I was doing a couple of sessions a week with the Roar," he said. "We've got the new baby now, so I've been pretty busy there as well. I've got a fitness base - I haven't put on 10 kilos or anything ridiculous like that - but the match condition obviously isn't there.
"Now that the games have started, three or four games in you find yourself pretty prepared, so I'm pretty happy with getting a run on Wednesday and I'm really looking forward to Saturday now. The camp wraps up after that game and I head back to Brisbane on Sunday."
Asked when he thought he might get a decision from Merrick on whether there was a contract for him with Phoenix, Thompson replied: "Ernie's a pretty straight-forward type of guy. I don't think he's going to waste my time and I'm not going to waste his, so I'm sure he'll have an idea of what he wants to do and will let me know when he's ready.
"He has obviously seen me play before and knows what sort of player I am - that's what got me to this situation in the first place. He would have wanted to have a close look at me play and see what sort of shape I'm in and how I fitted in with the other players.
"I tend to think that within a week after Saturday's game I'll be likely to hear something, but if he needs more time then that's no problem. It might turn out best for me to wait however long to see what he decides as well.
"This wasn't an opportunity I was going to pass on. If something comes from it, then, great."
Thompson said he was used to playing against the Phoenix players and was friends with some of them.
"I'm sure I'd have no trouble fitting into the group," he said. "I know Andrew Durante very well from playing with him at Newcastle. I've known him for 10 years or so and he's a good mate of mine.
"I've mixed with some of the others on nights out after games over there. They're a good bunch and it's comfortable being with them."
Thompson said he would continue to investigate the Asia possibility in the hope that either it or the Phoenix trial results in a deal.
"If both come up then I'm going to have to make a decision," he said. "But I'm not jumping forward to that stage. If it came to that it would be a good problem to have. Or there might be zero. I'm just waiting to see what happens."
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