Auckland City score Melbourne friendly

Melbourne City star Tim Cahill. Photo / Getty Images

Auckland City players could be lining up against former Socceroos and Everton legend Tim Cahill later this month.

In something of a coup, the Sandringham-based club have scored a pre-season friendly with A-League club Melbourne City ahead of the upcoming domestic season.

Melbourne City finished fourth last season, before being knocked out in the semifinals by eventual champions Adelaide United.

Cahill is the biggest name in their squad. He is Australia's all-time leading scorer and has returned home after a 19-year career in England, the United States and China. His most notable stint came in eight seasons at Goodison Park, where he scored 56 goals in 226 games and set several records, including the most goals against Liverpool by an Everton player since World War II.

Aside from Cahill, Melbourne City also boast former Denmark and Aston Villa goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen and ex-Serie A striker Bruno Mezza.

With plenty of options in Australia, it's a mark of respect for Auckland City that the Victorian side have agreed to host the match.

The game is one of several lined up for the Oceania champions, who are aiming to replicate their build-up to the 2014 Fifa Club World Cup in Morocco, where they finished third.

They plan to play a Hong Kong national league side en route to the tournament in December, as well as at least one match in Japan against a J-League side before their Club World Cup opener.

Auckland City have retained the bulk of last year's squad for the Stirling Sports Premiership which kicks off on October 16.

Their major new signing is Spanish goalkeeper Enaut Zubikarai, who spent more than a decade in the Real Sociedad system. For long spells, he was a reserve keeper -- for a time behind Chilean stopper Claudio Bravo, who has since turned out for Barcelona and Manchester City -- but still made 46 La Liga and Copa del Rey appearances, including games against Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Valencia.

The 32-year-old Zubikarai, who also played in the Champions League, made five appearances for Tondela in the Portuguese first division last season.

Ivan Vicelich will slot into a full-time coaching role, while Harry Edge, who most recently turned out in the South African Premier League, has also linked with the club.