The All Whites are to continue their crash course in English soccer with a theory lesson at Liverpool.
The New Zealand squad are to attend Liverpool's Champions League match against Israel's Maccabi Haifa at Anfield tomorrow morning (7.05am start NZT).
The third round qualifying tie will be a break from training ahead of their match against Blackburn Rovers on Sunday (2am start NZT), the second of New Zealand's premiership opponents in England following last weekend's 1-1 draw against Charlton Athletic.
"We're in the midst of two intense days of training ahead of the Blackburn game so it'll be good to balance it out with the trip to Anfield," coach Ricki Herbert said.
"It's a good opportunity to see another premiership team playing, especially as it'll be in the Champions League.
"The boys will be able to look at the different trends of football around the world and see what a team like Maccabi Haifa will do coming to a place like Anfield."
Captain Danny Hay trained fully for the first time on tour today when Herbert put his squad through an exhausting session at Preston North End's training ground.
Hay missed the game against Charlton due to a calf strain but is set to return against Blackburn.
The former Leeds United defender could yet be reunited with Ryan Nelsen in central defence.
On the comeback after a hamstring injury, Nelson believes his Blackburn club is open to him proving his fitness by playing his first match for the All Whites since the 2004 Oceania Nations Cup in Adelaide.
Nelsen was not taken on Blackburn's two-match tour of Germany so he could receive specialist treatment on his hamstring.
A decision on his availability is due tomorrow.
Herbert was pleased to see Hay get through New Zealand's training session today, especially with Ivan Vicelich, the stand-in skipper against Charlton, back into pre-season training with his Dutch club RKC Waalwijk.
"He's progressing nicely and all being equal it looks favourable approaching the weekend," Herbert said of Hay.
Herbert is due to name his starting 11 on Saturday morning (NZT).
- NZPA
Soccer: All Whites in build-up to Blackburn challenge
Ricki Herbert
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