He knew it wouldn't be a walk in the park, but Socceroos left-back Brad Smith never expected he'd have a tougher time cracking Bournemouth's first XI than at Liverpool.
Smith transferred to Bournemouth from the Reds in July, full of hope a smaller club would present more opportunities to play regular Premier League football.
Yet three months into the season the 22-year-old still hasn't played a single minute in England's top tier.
While Smith was under no illusions it would be a tall task breaking into a well-established squad, he admitted the lack of game time had already left him pondering his club future.
"They've had the same back four for about five years now so it's difficult to try and get in there," he said.
"But I'm still young compared to [No.1 left-back] Charlie Daniels, he's 30.
"It's a patience game. I signed a good lengthy deal, so I just have to wait for my chance.
"If I get a few chances I'll see how it goes from there, but I think after the end of the season I'll see whether it's a loan [move] or I stay, or see what the other guy [Daniels] does."
The situation was of no immediate concern for Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou, who is more than happy with the national team form of Smith and fellow game-starved teammates Robbie Kruse and Mat Ryan.
Postecoglou also pointed out that Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe wouldn't have paid a reported $10.5 million for the New South Welshman if he didn't want him for the long term.
"The amount of money they spent on him is quite significant for a club like Bournemouth, so they don't see him as a one-year player," Postecoglou said.
"I think it's the right club for him because they'll be patient with him, they'll invest in him, and once he does break through he'll become an important part of their team.
"It's a great point for him to start his football career."
Smith's Liverpool background has turned him into an unlikely hero in Thailand ahead of Tuesday's World Cup qualifier in Bangkok.
Fans appear unfazed that the Penrith-born Anfield academy product made less than 10 Premier League appearances for the club, loitering outside Bangkok's Supachalasai Stadium waiting for the former fringe Reds player to emerge and sign their "Smith" Reds jerseys.
"Liverpool is such a big club and because I've played there it's going to follow me around for a while," he said.