Makrillos is in his second season with Greek Super League club Panionios and after overcoming an early season injury has become a regular for the Athens-based club playing in seven games since December.

One of those matches saw the 23-year-old feature in the 2-1 home win against current Super League leaders PAOK in the first leg of the Greek Cup quarter final.

With a spot in the final four at stake, Markrillos revealed he was more excited than intimidated at the daunting prospect of playing Wednesday’s second leg tie at PAOK’s Toumba stadium.

“It would be an amazing feeling to be in two semi-finals of the Greek Cup in my first two seasons with Panionios,” he told FTBL from his base in Greece.

“I feel if we do what our coach tells us to do we would achieve our goal. The atmosphere itself is intimidating although I do thrive in those situations like that and I do well under pressure."

Makrillos joined Panionios in January 2018 after spending time with NSW NPL clubs Rockdale City Sydney Olympic and made his professional debut for the Greek Super League side only a week later.

Now that he is in his second year as a professional in Greece he admits that he feels much more settled.

“It’s a lot smoother than the first I’d say now I’ve got into the rhythm and the routine of the training, he said.

“When you first come to a new club you have to get used to a lot of things.

“Find apartments to live, meet your new teammates, meet the staff and it does take a lot out of you because you have to put a lot of your efforts towards that.

“As a professional footballer you have to get along with your teammates – that is the most important thing.

“Now I feel a lot more comfortable, I don’t feel out of place and I’m enjoying my football and playing some games and I have found my rhythm.”

The Sydney-born junior spent six years with English club Stoke City before returning and playing in the NSW NPL and is relishing the sheer number of opportunities there is to play games in Greece.

“In Australia and some other countries they don’t even play a full season,” he said.

“The good thing about the Greek league at this stage of the season there are many games with the league games on the weekend and the cup games on a Wednesday.

“It’s a lot for your body but everything at the club is very professional and it’s helping us to be playing all these matches.”