KEY POINTS:
It has taken the waxing world by storm and now Brazilians are all the rage in the A-League.
Brazilians produce many of the world's best footballers and A-League clubs are clamouring to tap into the resource-rich market.
In the league's first season, there were no players from South
America's biggest country but this jumped to five last season, with three at Melbourne.
This number could reach double figures when the third A-League season kicks off in August - all the more remarkable considering clubs are now restricted to only four imports.
Phoenix coach Ricki Herbert has indicated he wants as many as three Brazilians and has already signed Daniel Lins Cortes - simply known as Daniel.
He's also been chasing Felipe de Souza Campos and has his eye on another six potential recruits for the third berth.
There is an element of trust in agents and instinct involved, considering Herbert has seen only extended DVDs of Daniel and even less of Campos.
Herbert reassured himself he was doing the right thing when he discovered other A-League clubs were chasing Daniel and is convinced Campos, who would play in behind the front striker, would be a hit.
Adelaide have two Brazilians, while Queensland have one and are likely to sign a second if Korean Hyuk-Su Seo gains Australian residency, which would clear the way for another import.
Newcastle are lining up as many as three after a recent two-week sortie to Brazil by their coach Gary Van Egmond.
"It's about entertainment," Newcastle chief executive George Liolio explained. "Fans like to see someone new, someone with flair."
Liolio admitted they had been urged to recruit Brazilians in the league's first year but the closest they got was recruiting Colombian Milton Rodriguez last season.
They are now in serious talks with two Brazilians, an Argentinian and a Colombian.
Herbert agrees that winning football games is not the only reason Brazilians are in his sights.
"The quality you see from the Brazilian international side is something that excites the public," he said. "It will be a culture mindshift for people in New Zealand who are used to seeing European footballers but I think it will be exciting. It will bring an extra dimension to the game here."
Given the fact there are more than 10,000 Brazilians trying to make it as professional footballers at home and overseas, agents have plenty of clients to farm out.
They can often be picked up more cheaply than European players and are also normally younger, especially compared to the ageing British exports for which the New Zealand Knights became infamous.
The strategy, though, is not without risk.
Fred was a resounding success for champions Melbourne and was a major reason why the club's average attendances jumped from 16,000 in year one to 30,000 last season.
He was widely acclaimed as the league's best import and has since picked up a lucrative contract with American MLS side DC United.
But Alessandro and Claudinho were less successful, with the latter in particular struggling to settle in Melbourne.
"Because it will be a totally new environment for these guys, we would want a minimum of two [Brazilians] to help them settle here," Herbert said.
"We know we probably won't get player recruitment 100 per cent right - I don't think any team has achieved that in the two years of the league - but we will try to get as close as we can."
