THE mouth-watering prospect of Harry Kewell and Brett Emerton being on opposite sides to kick off the new A-League season could yet happen even if Socceroos coach Holger Osieck selects both players for World Cup duty the same weekend.

The opening round of the new season clashes with preparations for Australia's World Cup qualifier against Oman in Sydney on October 11, which includes a warm-up match against an as-yet unidentified opponent five days earlier.

New Blue ... Socceroo Brett Emerton is returning from a career in Europe for Sydney FC, while Melbourne Victory have signed Harry Kewell. Credit:Steve Christo

Football Federation Australia chief executive Ben Buckley made it clear yesterday that Osieck had first call on both players even if the A-League debuts of Kewell for Melbourne Victory and Emerton for Sydney FC could be expected to pull a crowd of more than 30,000 to Etihad Stadium.

''There were many variable and complex factors under consideration when we made the decision to kick off the A-League during the FIFA window, and we had to make that call almost a year ago,'' Buckley said.