The ex-Gold Coast United forward will make his debut for the Red Devils against Twin City Wanderers at South Wangaratta Reserve on Sunday.

Having started the season with Gold Coast Knights in the Queensland NPL, Barisic began chatting with Wangaratta coach and close friend Daniel Vasilevski about the possibility of giving back at community level.

The 33-year-old's main aims are to raise the profile of the club and help the younger players take the next step in their careers.

"I've been speaking to Daniel (Vasilevski) for a while in regards to coming down and joining and doing something a bit different to what I'm used to," Barisic said.

"It's an experience I'm probably not used to, but I'm really looking forward to it.

"I've played at different levels all around the world, but at the moment it's time to give back a little.

"I think it's probably the right area to help Daniel and Wangaratta win the league and continue to build the club.

"There was a lot we spoke about with the club in regards to the direction they want to go and giving the younger players someone to look up to.

"It's a great achievement I can have under my belt knowing I can be a positive role model."

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Wangaratta will be a completely different experience for Barisic, given his entire playing career in Australia has been spent at Croatian clubs - Melbourne Knights and Gold Coast Knights.

"It wasn't just about the first team (at Wangaratta), it was about the whole club and putting it on the map," Barisic said.

"Hopefully I can expose the league a little bit more and give these younger players the opportunity to go to the NPL and maybe the A-League."

Barisic will continue to reside and train on the Gold Coast and fly down every Saturday to play for Wangaratta on Sundays.

He added Vasilevski was someone he looked up to early in his career.

"We haven't played in the same team, but when I was growing up he was at Melbourne Knights and obviously Melbourne Victory and I'd known him for a long time," Barisic said.

"I looked up to him in a way, so it's another way I can pay him back for being a bit of a mentor for me growing up."

Barisic is expecting to receive plenty of attention from the Twin City defence when he lines up on Sunday.

"You're always going to cop a bit of stick, but you've got to get over that and know what you're there for," he said.

"I'd like to be there for the rest of the season and help them achieve what they really want to achieve, which is obviously winning the league.

"They're in prime position, but as everyone knows in football, it's not locked up until you actually do it."

Wangaratta has a three-point lead on top ahead of Albury United.