Documents from the Netherlands arrived earlier in the week to complete part of the bureaucratic exercise, but time is running out for the whole process to be concluded before Saturday’s round two match against Central Coast Mariners in Gosford.

Gold Coast coach Miron Bleiberg was naturally frustrated, but remained both hopeful and pragmatic about the situation, declaring faith in the depth of his squad should Rigters be ruled out again.

“Unfortunately on the eve of the game we are still waiting for the final piece of paperwork that will satisfy all the visa requirements," Bleiberg said.

"But although time is ticking there is still a chance that it will come through and he can play. It’s a wait and see situation and that’s all we can do.

“We want Mace to play of course, but last week James Brown came in for him and we all saw what happened there. It was almost a given that James would score the goal because that’s how football often works.”

Bleiberg received better news about another of his Dutch imports this morning though with midfielder Paul Beekmans passing a fitness test on a sore ankle.

Beekmans sat out two training days this week and the rest period worked its magic so the dynamic Dutchman will travel with the squad this afternoon and take his place in the side.

“Paul (Beekmans) has a bit of tightness in his ankle which is due to him not being used to the harder grounds here in Australia," he said.

"We gave him Wednesday and Thursday off training and there was dramatic improvement, so he trained fully today and he is fine to play."

Both United and the Mariners are chasing their first three-pointer of the new campaign in what promises to be an open match at Bluetongue Stadium.

Gold Coast fashioned over 20 attempts at goal against Wellington in last week’s clash at Skilled Park and will again be confident of posing an attacking threat against Graham Arnold’s men.

Central Coast’s season began with a 1-0 loss to reigning champions Brisbane Roar and Bleiberg believes that result will give the home side additional motivation.

“I would’ve preferred to play the Mariners after a win to be honest, not coming off a loss and chasing their first victory of the season, he said.

“Last week Wellington were something of a wounded animal after everyone writing them off and some of their off-season dramas, so they played out of their skin. The same will apply to the Mariners who are a proud club and are playing at home after a loss.

“But to lose away to Brisbane Roar is certainly nothing to be embarrassed about and not too many sides will take three points from Suncorp Stadium this season, so Central Coast shouldn’t take it to heart.”

But even if striker Rigters is ruled out of the visit to Gosford, the United boss says he will adopt an attacking approach against one of this season’s title favourites.

“This year we have so many new players, either from our youth team or from overseas, and they’re not overly familiar with the ins and outs of the Hyundai A-League. That makes my job a little easier in that I can just tell them to go and express themselves without worrying in advance about how difficult the match might be.

“We are going down there for three points and we have already said that this season we will play without fear.”

Target man Dylan Macallister is set to lead the line once again for Gold Coast and for the second week running will face one of his former clubs.