After Ivan Jerkovic touched down on Monday afternoon, his first destination wasn't the accommodation. Instead, after a 13-hour trip from Croatia, he headed straight to the Choa Chu Kang Stadium to watch his probable new colleagues in training.

The 31-year-old midfielder, who netted 12 goals in all domestic competitions last year, can't wait to play, but knows he has to wait.

If he passes his Beep test next week, he will replace Warriors' Swedish midfielder Niklas Sandberg, who will be leaving the club soon because his family is unsettled here.

Said Jerkovic: "I know SAFFC and a lot of the players, I also follow the S-League on the Internet and I know that the game on Thursday (RHB Singapore Cup against Bangkok Glass) is very important because in the league we are 12 points behind Tampines.

"I want to play in the (RHB Singapore Cup) game, but I can't because the window opens only on 7 June and I need to pass my Beep test." 

To that end, he seems confident although he didn't have to take one last year. His club DPMM of Brunei were exempted from the mandatory fitness test.

He said: "I took a Beep test three days ago, and I got Level 13-5. But over here, the weather's different."

Warriors coach Richard Bok is hoping that Jerkovic will be the spark to re-ignite what has been a less-than-impressive domestic season. 

He said:"If you base on last year's performance, he was DPMM's livewire in the middle of the park. I hope that he will make things happen for us in midfield together with John (Willkinson) or whoever he's partnering." 

Last year, Jerkovic was the top-scorer in the League Cup with four goals, including a 30m free kick against the Warriors in a 3-0 win in the group stages. He was also DPMM's joint top-scorer in the league with Abdelhamid Berguiga. Both bagged seven goals each.They both scored in the 2-1 win over the Warriors in front of a 10,000-strong crowd in Bandar Seri Begawan.

 Jerkovic also netted one in the RHB Singapore Cup, taking his tally to 12 goals , which is an impressive tally for a midfielder.

But a Fifa ban on the Brunei FA resulted in DPMM being expunged from the league, leaving Jerkovic with no choice but to return to Croatia, after a fruitless wait for FAS appeal.

He said: "I wanted to stay in Brunei, but after the Fifa ban, I couldn't. SAFFC and all clubs in Singapore already took new players, so I went back to Croatia."

He turned out for Croatian second division club Imotski for four months, during which he scored three goals in about 10 games.

"But I could be released because they have no chance for promotion now," he added.

As for the Warriors' loosening grip on the title, he said: "It's not finished and we will try to catch them."

In line with tradition, Jerkovic gets dunked with icy cold water after his first training session.