Kewell customer

The two were playing in their homeland of Australia, Neill for the Institute of Sport Under 19 side and Kewell as left back for the New South Wales Institute of Sport.

"I think we won 3-2 with a last minute goal," said right back Neill, who will come directly up against the left-sided Kewell, if selected.

"I remember Harry was playing left back at the time but even then he was more interested in scoring goals than stopping them.

"He liked to run at people and always wanted to go forward.

"I have followed his career since then. His has progressed well while mine has progressed as well just a little slower."

Neill saw bags of talent in Kewell then and now he hopes that the 23-year-old can reach even greater heights.

"Being a friend of his I would like to think he could be a Rivaldo or a Ronaldo, he is that good. He has all the attributes. "He is very level headed and is determined to be the best as most footballers and Australians are. A lot of his success is down to his determination as well as his ability.

"He has the right mental approach and works hard on and off the field. When he left Australia he was just 16 and someone spotted that he had something and all credit to them.

"Coming from Australia, you only get one shot as we don't have a league like the English one to fall back on at home so you have to take your chance."

While Kewell has gone from strength to strength with Leeds, Neill firstly joined Millwall until Graeme Souness snatched him up in a £600,000 deal in September.

The 23-year-old took the right back spot off former Manchester United star John Curtis and played every game up until he damaged his medial ligament last month which not only kept him out of the Rovers side but stopped him lining up alongside Kewell in the World Cup final Play-offs for Australia. That would have sealed him his sixth cap after a three year absence from the international scene as he tried to boost the Socceroos' Olympic bid.

But the quietly-spoken Aussie has recovered sooner than expected from the injury and came back for the last game - a 1-0 loss to Middlesbrough at Ewood.

It was a hard defeat to take for Rovers and Neill knows an immediate reply will be tough as, alongside Kewell in the United side is another of his Aussie pals, Mark Viduka.

"I do have a few friends at Leeds," he laughed. "But there will be no friends once the game starts and that is the way we always play. If they play and I play then we will be fully committed to our sides.

"Mark is a strong player but good on the ground for a big man. A lot goes through him. He is good on the ball and holds it up and brings people into play.

"But I do not think we will just focus on the two Australians, they have a lot of good players.

"They have just bought Robbie Fowler and we have got to worry about scoring against their fantastic defence.

"We have got to try and find a weakness in their backline which is not easy. All credit to them, they are well organised and they work as a team.

"We have to win our individual battles, and once we have won our one-on-ones, we have got to see if we can get something out of the game." Neill is predicting an entertaining clash at Ewood with both sides ready to go out and attack.

"We are at home so we are not going to sit back. Obviously, we will take it to them because we are at Ewood Park.

"If we sit back we are just asking for trouble.

"We are just going to have to match them.

"They play a very attacking style of football although they have a strong defence. It will be like a game of chess.

He continued: "It is a big game for me, with the Australians, and for the club.

"We had a hiccup the other day against Middlesbrough and we lost our undefeated home record so it is important to bounce back and make sure that teams come to Ewood Park knowing they are not going to get an easy game.

"We need to get something out of the game for our confidence more than anything.

"And as me and Harry don't keep in touch as much as we could, the weekend might rekindle our friendship!"