Eight days after attacking midfielder Denis Genreau signed for Melbourne Victory, competition arrived in the form of Juan Mata.
For many players, the signing of one of the great playmakers of the modern era would be daunting.
But it's something Genreau has embraced.
"To be honest, the first thought is 'it's going to be a tougher fight for that position,'" Genreau said on Thursday.
"But no, in the end, we're teammates.
"I can play No.10, but I wouldn't say we're exactly the same position. "He's more higher than than me, and I can contribute as well more defensively.
"So in the end, we'll work it out together."
That's exactly what they've been able to do so far.
Genreau started the season in the attacking midfield role before dropping deeper later and was superb in a 0-0 draw with Auckland, before notching a goal and assist in a 5-2 loss to Newcastle.
Against Perth last week, Genreau started deeper as Mata started, played 69 minutes and scored.
"I've got so much to learn from him. To be honest we're not in competition," he said of World Cup-winner Mata.
"We complement each other, and in training we have a great connection.
"But I've always said, in all the clubs that I've been at, always the midfielders are the best players or the captain, so I'm always fighting with the best players.
"But yeah it's a different challenge for me to push him, he pushes me, and hopefully the team benefits from that."
Genreau, 26, and his teammates have been like sponges soaking up every bit of advice they can from the ex-Spain, Chelsea and Manchester United star.
"We ask him so many questions," said Genreau, whi is also tryign to battle his way into Tony Popovic's Socceroos squad.
"Sometimes stuff comes up from your phone - you see 'Juan Mata assist in the Champions League final' and ask him about it, he tells you.
"It's awesome. Just mostly his positioning - like he's not moving so much on the field, but just his positioning is so smart and his touch obviously and his quality and finishing and everything is incredible."
Genreau, who joined Victory after time abroad with Toulose and Deportivo de La Coruna, started his career at Melbourne City.
He never played in a derby for City and is keen to experience his first Melbourne match-up in front of family and friends at AAMI Park on Saturday night.
"It was so important to win in Perth, to start building a bit of momentum and to come into the derby with confidence," he said.
"To be able to build on that, and obviously to win the derby would be a massive confidence boost."
