Barbarouses, 18, is four weeks into a winter-long spell with Macarthur Rams, based in Sydney’s west near Campbelltown.

The idea of the stint is to give the talented youth – a peripheral figure in last season’s Phoenix side and without a youth league side to play in - some valuable first team experience.

The spell is reaping rewards, according to him. And it augers well as he looks to play a bigger part in Wellington’s drive for finals footy next season.

The livewire winger, also a member of the New Zealand U/23s going to the Beijing Olympics, says his time with the Rams will result in a “new” Barbarouses when he returns home in July to Wellington.

“I think I can see the results already. I think the first couple of games I was lacking sharpness. But the last couple of weeks that’s shown the results,” he told au.fourfourtwo.com.

“We’ve picked up two wins and I’m feeling a lot sharper...that’s why I’m here. I hope to be the new and improved version when I get back."

Barbarouses has been in Sydney for six weeks and has played four league games for the currently second-bottom Rams, scoring his first goal last weekend against Bankstown.

He’s also nabbed a couple of cracking goals in friendly matches, according to reports.

“Obviously the NSWPL is a little lower than the A-League, but it’s definitely a good league. And you notice that with the players, they’re hungry because they want to play in the A-League.

“I don’t think people know who I am here...which I think could be a good thing,” Barbarouses added with a laugh.

The teenager has been joined at the Sydney club by defender Steven Old, who was recently released by Phoenix.

Phoenix boss Ricki Herbert has a contact in Sydney who keeps him up to date with the progress of Barbarouses while the rest of the Wellington squad tunes up in New Zealand.

The striker is likely to play for New Zealand against Australia in mid-July in the proposed U/23 friendly. The Kiwis may also then tour Asia before landing in China for the Olympics.

But it’s playing for Phoenix – and their well-organised Yellow Fever fan base – that has him revved up.

“They’re amazing, you can hear them for the full 90 minutes every game,” Barbarouses said.

“And the chants that they have are incredible...and the chant for me is pretty funny. It goes, ‘Nothing rhymes with Barbarouses!'. That’s it...

“I think the fans can expect me to feature a lot more this season. I want to make an impact and bag a few goals for the Yellow Fever and take Phoenix to the top four.”

Barbarouses said that he misses his family and girlfriend - but not famous TV show, Shortland Street. “Nah, I don’t watch it,” he laughed.

However, with the Yellow Fever website, he’s never far away from what’s going on at the club.

“They’ve got everything [on the site] and it’s all up to date," he said. "They’re so interested in what’s going on at the club.”