THE tsunami of media, sponsor and fan interest that has accompanied Harry Kewell's signing for Melbourne Victory has not fazed rival Melbourne Heart, which is optimistic it will ride out the storm and gain from the interest generated by the Socceroo veteran's arrival.

The Heart has made its pitch to ''traditional'' soccer supporters, fans who didn't jump on the Victory bandwagon when the A-League kicked off six years ago.

Harry Kewell. Credit:Getty Images

It sees no reason to change now even though it acknowledges that plenty of ''theatregoers'' and first-time consumers are likely to show up at Victory games to see Kewell and make up their own minds.

''We would say well done to them, they stuck with it and pursued their target and eventually got him. But we are not too worried. We are in this for the long haul. The circus comes to town and then leaves,'' CEO Scott Munn said yesterday.