KEISUKE Honda remains in contention to make his Melbourne Victory debut in the FFA Cup on Tuesday night but the Japanese superstar definitely won’t start, according to coach Kevin Muscat.

Honda was unveiled as the club’s marquee signing last week and has begun training with his new teammates but Muscat is wary of blooding him too soon given the A-League season is still two months away.

Honda and fellow Victory recruits Georg Niedermeier and Nick Ansell are all in the mix to travel to Sydney for the round of 16 fixture against APIA Leichhardt, with Muscat saying a final decision on their involvement is yet to be made.