Keisuke Honda may not be the only Japanese sensation set to light up the Hyundai A-League this season.

Tasuku Sekiya, the two-goal star of APIA Leichhardt's stunning upset of Melbourne Victory, is doing everything right to join his star compatriot at the top of Australian football.

Long known to NPL NSW audiences of as a player of immense quality, the 25-year-old has captured national attention by netting three times in his two FFA Cup 2018 outings to date.

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With heads beginning to turn in his direction, could a life-changing opportunity be around the corner for pint-sized APIA sensation?

The case in his favour continues to grow more compelling.

Natural finisher

Sekiya clearly has an eye for goal.

His ninth-minute opener in the upset of Victory was a strike of pure precision; an unerring effort into the bottom far corner after the ball broke invitingly just outside the area.

HIGHLIGHTS: Sekiya sizzles on the big stage

He followed that with a different kind of finish soon after the interval, rifling a bouncing ball beyond Matt Acton after shaking off Terry Antonis with a delicate touch inside.

Both strikes were indicative of the high level of technique that Sekiya possesses.

"His finishing is fantastic," APIA stalwart Franco Parisi said of his talented team-mate.

"For [the upset] to start within the first 10 minutes really set the tone, so it was a big step up for him."

APIA ON TOP: Tigers stalwart Parisi hails FFA Cup heroes

Nominally an attacking midfielder, the way Sekiya has stepped into the mantle of departed striker Jordan Murray is a credit to his versatility.

Only two players – Murray, and Alejandro Sanchez – have netted more times than Sekiya in NPL NSW this season.

Sekiya has been at the centre of the Tigers' run.

Driven attitude

A former Shonan Bellmare academy player, Sekiya is a product of the highly professional Japanese football system that continues to churn out top-notch talent.

His footballing education could ease the transition into Hyundai A-League surroundings, and the man himself is making no secret of his ambitions.

"I would like to play in the A-League," he recently told Fox Sports.

"I would sign with any club of course, but I watched Sydney FC a lot last year, and Western Sydney Wanderers too.

"Wanderers have had Japanese players — Jumpei [Kusukami] and Shinji [Ono] of course – and others too. They inspire me, encourage me."

Follow in their footsteps and the part-time Opera House kitchen hand will have accomplished his mission.

The challenge

Perhaps the only roadblock that stands in Sekiya's way is the foreign roster spot he would command, although even that is mitigated to some degree by the value he could provide as a 3+1 player in the AFC Champions League.

With over a month left until the new season commences, prospective suitors certainly have enough time to assess the potential risks and rewards.

Sekiya might well remove all doubt by the time the FFA Cup Quarter Finals are over.