Bruce, 23, will return to Melbourne on Friday morning for his first trip to Horsham in two years.

Hornets coach Owen Hughan said the chance to have Bruce, the Wimmera's most successful basketball player, appear for the side was a `can't miss' opportunity.

"This will be the biggest game in Horsham for a long time," Hughan said. "We are very lucky to have a player like Aaron. Most players leave their home and never come back but Aaron was very keen to come back and play."

Hughan called Bruce in the United States yesterday to confirm his availability.

"He really wants to play. It is a rare situation. We have a national team player coming back to Horsham," Hughan said.

The match will have added significance for the Bruce family because it will be the first time Bruce gets to play with his younger brothers, Cameron and Shaun, who both play for the Hornets.

"We weren't sure it was going to happen," Julie Bruce, Aaron's mother, said. "But now we know it's going happen it's awesome."

Hughan said he would start Bruce and play him for as many minutes as possible.

"Aaron is a big player and we have to treat him as such," Hughan said. "That is the best way to do it."

The Hornets have lost forward Marcus Wright to a hamstring injury for Saturday's game so Bruce's inclusion will be a boost for the side.

Wright will be out for about four weeks. His absence opens up the number 14 singlet for Bruce to wear.

Bruce's parents, Steve and Julie, said they were delighted to have their son home.

"We are stoked to have him home," Julie Bruce said. "We visited him at Baylor in February but his brothers haven't seen him for two years so they are really excited he is coming home."

Bruce will be accompanied by his American girlfriend Witney Leasley who is a cheerleader at Baylor University.

Steve Bruce said Leasley had been offered a try-out for some NBA teams as a cheerleader.

Aaron has hired sports agent Chris Emens to represent him. Steve Bruce said Emens was pulling out all stops to get Aaron into the NBA.

"Emens and his agency are planning on sending Aaron to Los Angeles before the NBA draft to work with a leading trainer who has lots of experience in preparing players for the NBA," Steve Bruce said. "That will be all expenses paid."

Steve Bruce said he did not know whether Aaron would be invited to the NBA draft camp on May 29 but even if he was not invited, Emens would set up workouts with a number of NBA teams.

"Aaron did the same sort of workouts last year," Steve Bruce said. "In those workouts Aaron is grouped with two forwards and another guard. They then play against each other under the instruction of one of the team's coaches."

Bruce's return to the Wimmera will also be highlighted by a civic reception celebrating the achievements of Horsham Basketball Association.

Horsham Rural City Council will hold a civic reception to honour Bruce, the Horsham Under-18 side which won the Victorian country titles in February and the Under-14 girls team which has made the national championships for the first time.