All Whites coach Anthony Hudson has upset a number of experienced internationals with the naming of his latest squad to face Korea Republic later this month, but feels his expansive selection policy is essential if New Zealand is to qualify for the next World Cup.
Hudson has omitted experienced internationalsTommy Smith, Glen Moss, Andrew Durante, Shane Smeltz, Jeremy Brockie and Tim Payne from his 21-man squad and has replaced them with eight new faces including two players never before seen on New Zealand soil.
Greek defender Themistoklis Tzimopoulos (29) joins the squad from the Super League club PAS Giannina while midfielder Benjamin van den Broek (27) - who plays in Romanian Liga 1 with Universitatea Cluj - is also named.
"Our plan is to create competition, by creating more depth in the squad," Hudson said. "This is a good opportunity for us now, against good opposition, to bring a few players in that have shown something that we feel could help us long-term.
"It means that at this moment in time, there are lots of players that we don't need to see, and I'll put in that list now Brockie and Tommy Smith and a number of others. This will probably be our last chance in this cycle to look at any new players, any young players, and there will come a point - post the Olympic qualifiers in July, where we will really narrow down our squad and get into a much more consistent group."
Four New Zealand-based players have been included in the side to make their first All Whites trip.
Auckland City FC pair Sam Burfoot, 20, and Ryan De Vries, 23, will be in line for their first senior international caps while Men's U-20 and Wanderers SC squad members Sam Brotherton and Clayton Lewis are also named.
Hudson also selected uncapped goalkeepers Max Crocombe and Stefan Marinovic ahead of Moss.
Hudson said he had a number of difficult conversations with senior players who were left out.
"I've spoken to quite a lot of players individually and understandably no, not all the players were happy and they were disappointed because they want to be a part of it, but if I didn't get any other response I would be disappointed myself.
"But we do have a very clear plan of how we're trying to build the team, so it makes it quite easy and clear what we are trying to do.
"I met a couple of players [yesterday] and if my heart wrought my head I would be very tempted to make a change but we have a plan, and it's there for a reason and I believe in it, so it makes it easier for me."
Korea Republic v All Whites
Wednesday, April 1, midnight (NZ time) Seoul World Cup Stadium, Seoul
Squad: Max Crocombe, Stefan Marinovic, Michael Boxall, Sam Brotherton, Thomas Doyle, Louis Fenton, Winston Reid, Storm Roux, Themistoklis Tzimopoulos, Deklan Wynne, Sam Burfoot, Clayton Lewis, Michael McGlinchey, Ryan Thomas, Bill Tuiloma, Benjamin van den Broek, Kosta Barbarouses, Tyler Boyd, Ryan De Vries, Marco Rojas, Joel Stevens, Chris Wood.
