Soccer: A wing and a prayer and Ivan the durable

Playing in midfield at altitude would be tough on 37-year-old All White Ivan Vicelich. Photo / Getty Images

For the All Whites, this is not quite how it was supposed to unfold.

Less than two months out from their World Cup play-offs, much of New Zealand's hopes appear to hinge on a wing, a prayer and a 37-year-old converted defender playing in central midfield.

The wing is Marco Rojas (currently injured but on the road back), the prayer is that Mexico can somehow be avoided and the player deep into his 30s is Ivan Vicelich.

In 2010, some All Whites fans were worried - then pleasantly surprised - with Vicelich's efforts at the World Cup, as the veteran acquitted himself well in the heart of midfield against Slovakia, Italy and Paraguay. But it says much about the paucity of options in the position that almost four years on, at the crux of another campaign, the Auckland City player is the frontrunner for a central midfield position alongside Michael McGlinchey.

Sure, Vicelich is the epitome of a professional athlete: he doesn't drink, keeps himself superbly fit, carries no extra weight and is rarely injured. But no one is immune to the ticking clock - it will be asking a lot of a 37-year-old to battle away in the engine room, against the quicksilver feet and minds of either Panama, Mexico or possibly Honduras.

Add in other challenges - a game in Mexico would be played at a lung-busting altitude of 2200m, while the average November temperature in Panama is 32C - and it is one of the most critical decisions for coach Ricki Herbert.

"[If we are in the] thick of altitude and 90,000 screaming Mexicans, that cool, calm, collective approach that Ivan brings is going to be incredibly important, but we are going to need energy and legs on the pitch as well," says Herbert. "That is the delicate 50-50 decision. Do you go with a guy that will cope and deal with what is in front of him or do you go with a younger player that you know physically and athletically will shut people down, win a lot of tackles, do things well and hopefully get through the occasion? I've always said, if players are good enough, you play them, regardless of their age."

Aside from Vicelich, the other contenders are probably Tim Payne, Dan Keat and Chris James. Payne and Keat missed the recent trip to Saudi Arabia through injury, which makes it extremely important that they play in the upcoming October Fifa window.

Payne appeals as a good foil for McGlinchey. He has always been a player mature beyond his years and has stepped up to every new level he has faced. He is physically strong, solid in the tackle and has a good touch. The 19-year-old is inexperienced (seven caps) but the daily grind at Blackburn (Payne has been at Ewood Park since early last year) where he usually turns out for the reserves, would have been invaluable. He would also have the ability to link with the attacking players during the rare forays forward that New Zealand will be able to make in the away leg.

Keat (25, four caps) made a promising start to his international career but had irregular game time at LA Galaxy the past two MLS seasons, though has since linked with Falkenburg in the Swedish second division.

James, 26, is also based in Scandinavia, turning out in the Finnish first division, and had a solid match in the 1-0 win over Saudi Arabia, which represented his comeback from the international wilderness after 17 matches between 2006 and 2009.

Striker Chris Killen was tried in midfield at the 2012 Oceania Nations Cup, an experiment which proved an abject failure, while new Kiwi Andrew Durante was moved forward from central defence into midfield in Saudi Arabia. That was always going to be hard for Durante, who has had a limited pre-season with the Phoenix, and he struggled with his touch and reading of the game in the unfamiliar role.