Former Western Sydney Wanderers premiership winning right back Jerome Polenz is set to return to the A-League, with champions Brisbane Roar set to sign him in the January transfer window as a replacement for Matt Smith.

The Roar sources indicate that Polenz arrived in Brisbane this week.

With the Roar only having four foreigners on the books, Polenz is set to fill the final spot, with Frans Thijssen having the option of using him in the centre of defence alongside Jade North, or right back, where Brisbane have had issues since Ivan Franjic left.

Polenz became a fan favourite after two strong seasons with the Wanderers, earning a reputation as a key part of Tony Popovic’s formula, but they couldn’t come to an agreement at the end of last season.

His great combination with Youssef Hersi was a key factor in the Wanderers making consecutive grand finals, and the Wanderers haven’t yet found a solution at right back since he left.

Polenz had a brief and unsettled spell in the Norwegian Tippeligaen, and could make his return to the A-League as early as the Roar’s trip to Wellington on January 4.