Two months after Perth were instructed by the Australian Professional Leagues to accept a loan offer for Khelifi, he is in line to face them for the first time at AAMI Park on Sunday.
Normally loan players sit out such encounters.
Understandably, Glory coach Alen Stajcic wasn't happy Khelifi was eligible to play, noting: "I don't think a loan player should be able to play against their parent club".
But Victory counterpart Popovic was nonplussed.
"It's something that we knew from from the outset that he'd be available for this game so that's not news that's new to us," he said.
"So he's part of the squad and he's fighting to start the match."
Victory are still in the mix for the premiership and have just one game away from AAMI Park in their run home.
Victory's Tony Popovic said he always knew Salim Khelifi would be available to face Glory. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)
"Look, we've got four games out of five here at home," Popovic said.
"We've got to make the most of that.
"You want to be coming to your best form at this point of the season and hopefully we can show that with a good performance and win against Perth and just go one game at a time.
"Hopefully that'll show the performances that we desire and the points that we need to really challenge those top two."
Popovic was wary of what Stajcic's resolute Glory could deliver.
"Away from home they're very resolute, difficult to break down and they're very dangerous on the break," he said.
"Obviously with (Adam) Taggart in the team, he doesn't need many chances.
"So we have to be aware of their strengths but we've just got to make sure that we play well and we perform to our maximum and we feel that that should get us the three points."
Victory expect to regain Ryan Teague from injury against Perth.
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