With head coach Dutchman Eelco Schattorie and fellow Aussie assistant coach Shaun Ontong, a former A-League player, Papas is relishing another opportunity to work with both coaches on foreign soil.

With the AFC-experienced Schattorie, Papas helped Saudi Pro League side Al-Ettifaq avoid relegation last year.

“It’s about evolving as a coach and working with people you enjoy working with. I have a great working relationship with Eelco [Schattorie] and have a similar coaching philosophy.

“And Shaun is one of the brightest young coaches from Australia coming through,” added Papas, who also consults for clubs in Japan.

The ISL is giving Papas vital experience given the dearth of professional opportunities in Australia.

It’s the first time Papas has been back in India in three years. He made his name on the sub-continent as coach of the national U23 side after coaching at the AIS, NPL and A-League as an assistant coach at Heart and the Jets.

And now he's seeing many of the players he coached now debuting in the five-year-old ISL.

“This ISL has improved a lot from when I was first here. The foreign players are a lot better now. It’s not just about marquees anymore. It’s a longer league too, going now for eight months.”

The Australian presence is growing in the ISL with NorthEast’s Aussie coaches, plus Tim Cahill, Erik Paartalu on the pitch and even legendary Aussie commentator Andy Paschalidis calling games shown in Australia.

Papas added: “Having Timmy [Cahill] here, the Indian players really look up to him. He’s adapted well to this league. But that’s expected.

"He’s done that everywhere he’s gone, hasn’t he?"