JAPAN'S J-League is making a concerted bid to snatch Italian star Alessandro Del Piero from Sydney FC.

The league has put a plan in place to pay for Del Piero's wage bill through huge sponsorship deals.

If it can lure the Italian to Japan, the J-League would hand the 2006 World Cup winner to one of its member clubs this year in a ploy which is rare for Japanese football.

Japanese sources last night confirmed Del Piero's agent, his brother Stefano, has been contacted by members of the J-League hierarchy.

Del Piero, 38, signed a one-year contract with the option of a second-season renewal last September. It is understood Del Piero and Sydney are close but have not yet agreed the terms for a second season, leaving the door open for a J-League raid.

Del Piero scored four goals last weekend as Sydney battled their way off the bottom of the table. That hasn't been a problem at the A-League's newest franchise, with the Wanderers eyeing a top-two finish.

Western Sydney coach Tony Popovic has kept his squad on their toes with a rotation policy that has encouraged competition. He has recast his pack almost every week, even benching or resting his key men in a drive to keep them fresh and hungry. According to wide man Shannon Cole, it means no player is guaranteed a spot.

Not even marquee man Shinji Ono has been spared at times, but Cole admitted that Popovic's methods could not be questioned, with the side sitting in third, eight points clear of the rest of the pack. Seen as a fullback at Sydney FC, Cole waited patiently for his chance at the Wanderers and has had the chance to forage further forward amid the rotation.

"At first, it seemed a little strange to me - without warning, someone would have an amazing game and the next week not be involved," Cole said. "But you can't question the boss and what he's done in such a small amount of time.

"In this team there's a number of roles I can play and have been asked to play. I'm happy to do that and play my part in what's been an amazing season, and what we believe will be an exciting second part of the year.

"But I do like being further forward, certainly, I'm the kind of fullback who likes to attack as well. "That's naturally my game and being further up the park you get to be more involved in the attacking moves, definitely."

With even Popovic admitting that a place in the finals looms large on the horizon, Cole insisted the only job was "to train well and play well".

"That way I find it easy just to focus on each game, though I enjoy watching the other games," he said.

"At the start of the season I didn't listen either (to pundits who tipped Wanderers to struggle). I knew what each individual could achieve, and what the team could.

"I'm not saying all footballers don't pay attention to the media, some get inspired by it and driven on but I like to switch off from football away from the club and focus on my family and other things that keep me busy."

Melbourne Heart visit Parramatta Stadium on Saturday, with the Wanderers hoping Sydney FC will take points off Melbourne Victory that day and open up a path to third spot.

Originally published as J-League plans ADP raid