The Newcastle Jets have bolstered their midfield with the signing of creative midfielder Zenon Caravella on an 18-month contract.
Caravella won Adelaide United's player of the year last season but was released on Tuesday after struggling for opportunities during the current campaign.
Jets coach Gary van Egmond was pleased to have snapped up the 29-year-old, who was part of Holger Osieck's Socceroos camp in 2011.
"We are really happy to acquire Zenon, not only for this season but for next season as well," he said.
"Zenon will be a great acquisition because of his technical abilities and the way he works in a game but just as importantly, for his great leadership."
Meanwhile, Caravella's new team-mate Sam Gallaway says his side is focused on maintaining their good form in this weekend's clash with Wellington.
The Jets have turned around a mid-season form slump to register two draws and a win in their past three matches against the Mariners, Adelaide and Brisbane, to sit just inside the top six.
Gallaway said they will look to keep the run going against Wellington where they face a hoodoo of sorts, winning just one match out of nine trips across the Tasman.
"Obviously we have a bad record over there but we are just treating it like any other game and we just want to keep playing the way we have been playing," Gallaway said.
"I played one game about two years ago when we got beaten 1-0 and Griffo (Ryan Griffiths) got sent off so it is a pretty tough place to win.
"It is a long trip, so hopefully we keep going the way we have been going and get a win or at least a point."
Gallaway agreed that the Phoenix are under pressure after falling into a form slump of their own that has seen them lose four matches in a row, culminating in a 7-1 thumping at the hands of Sydney FC last weekend which was their biggest loss ever.
However, he said that teams are dangerous when their backs are against the wall.
"At the start of the season they looked like a team to beat but they have gone into a slump and they have had a big loss on the weekend so it is going to be tough," he said.
"I guess there is a bit of pressure, you always want to come back from a big loss so I expect them to come out firing.
"It is always tough over there so it is going to be 'game on'."
Gallaway said he is in a positive frame of mind after being part of a backline that has remedied its leaking of goals from earlier in the season to keep three clean sheets in a row.
He is also buoyed by the fact his form has seen the club hand him a two-year contract extension.
"Halfway the season I didn't know where I was going to be but now I have secured a two-year contract I am comfortable," he said.
"But I have to keep focus and keep trying to play my best game each game and keep my spot.
"Everything we started to work on (defensively) since the start of the season is starting to pay off and we are playing well with three clean sheets so we are doing well.
"I wouldn't say that it is (my influence) it is just more the way we have been playing.
"I am comfortable (in the A-League) but I always want to get better as a footballer, so I have to listen to what Gary (van Egmond) and Deansy (assistant coach Craig Deans) say to me and keep going the way I am going."