Soccer: Herbert keeps faith with Manama 18

All Whites soccer coach Ricki Herbert has backed the same 18 players from the away leg of a World Cup playoff against Bahrain to finish the job of qualifying in Wellington on November 14.

A gutsy goalless draw in Manama on October 10 means the All Whites will earn a place at the World Cup finals for the first time since 1982 if they win in front of a capacity 35,000 home crowd.

While Herbert has retained the same matchday 18 from the first leg, the All Whites coach said it wasn't necessarily a straightforward decision.

"It's never easy to go with final squad for the most important game but I think there has been consistency with this group of players that has gone through Jordan and Bahrain and we just feel it's important to keep that intact," Herbert said.

Injury and illness concerns over two key players have been allayed. Captain Ryan Nelsen has avoided the swine flu scare at Blackburn Rovers and Rory Fallon is recovering well from a calf strain that saw him hobble out of Plymouth Argyle's match against Ipswich Town last weekend.

"Rory is making very good progress and I spoke to Ryan last night and he's in good health so as we stand we've got no injury concerns or medical problems," Herbert said.

As injury cover, Herbert has named five players on a non-travelling standby list: Steven Old, Jeremy Brockie, Jeremy Christie, Kris Bright and also Jacob Spoonley, who provided goalkeeping cover in Manama but did not make the matchday 18.

The All Whites assemble in Wellington on November 10.

While a New Zealand victory would confirm qualification for South Africa, a score draw would be enough for Bahrain to progress on the away goals rule.

A repeat of the 0-0 first leg score line would send the fixture into extra time and then to a penalty shootout if no further goals were scored.

FIFA confirmed earlier this week that goals scored by Bahrain in extra time would also count double if the match remains tied after the extra 30 minutes.

All Whites squad
James Bannatyne, Mark Paston, Andrew Boyens, Tony Lochhead, David Mulligan, Ryan Nelsen, Aaron Scott, Ben Sigmund, Ivan Vicelich, Andy Barron, Leo Bertos, Tim Brown, Simon Elliott, Michael McGlinchey, Rory Fallon, Chris Killen, Shane Smeltz, Chris Wood/

- NZPA