KEY POINTS:
Shrugging off the disappointment of not being able to send the national side out for a World Cup game in New Zealand for the first time in seven years, All Whites coach Ricki Herbert is single-minded in his approach to this afternoon's game against Fiji at Lautoka's Churchill Park.
"Our job is to put the events of the past week behind us and get on with what we have to do," said Herbert. "We have to be very professional and we certainly won't be getting involved with any issues surrounding what has gone on. Given what has happened, the advantage has swung back to the Fijians. We don't know a lot about them but I'm sure there will be a mix of ethnic Fijians and Indians.
"It won't be easy but we have to go out determined to get something from the game."
Of suggestions some overseas clubs might not be happy that their players have journeyed halfway around the world for just one game and might be reluctant to let them go for next month's scheduled home and away ties with Vanuatu, Herbert said: "The clubs can't play hard ball. Everyone, including the players, has to get over it. It is nothing to do with New Zealand Football. Potentially this is an isolated case and should be seen as just that."
Of more pressing concern is getting the team on the park this afternoon to do the job, pick up three valuable away points and kick on to the Confederations Cup in South Africa in 2009 and the next stage of the 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign. While the starting line-up will not be named until later today, it seems Herbert will stick with the players he had intended to put out for the postponed opener.
He is likely to opt for Mark Paston in goal, Jeremy Christie, Ivan Vicelich, Andy Boyens and Tony Lochhead in defence, a midfield quartet of Tim Brown (captain), David Mulligan, Duncan Oughton and Leo Bertos and a twin strikeforce of Chris Killen and Shane Smeltz, leaving James Bannatyne, Ben Sigmund, Jeff Campbell, James Pritchett, Chris James and Jarrod Smith on the bench.
The players involved in the disaster in Adelaide four years ago, when they lost 4-2 to Vanuatu - coincidently coached by current Fijian coach Carlos Buzzetti - are keen to put the memories of that failed campaign behind them and move on.
"With what history has taught us, this squad will not be taking anything for granted," said Brown. "We've got a lot to prove and this game is the chance to do that."
Of the humiliating early exit in Adelaide, Brown, on the bench for that game against Vanuatu, said: "It still burns. It's still etched in my memory."
Hopefully by the time today's game is over, all bitter memories will be gone and the team can look to move on and tackle Vanuatu, New Caledonia and the second game against Fiji with renewed confidence.
* Fiji football bosses have expressed concern at the late abandonment of Saturday's supposed opening qualifier at North Harbour Stadium and have asked Fifa that they be awarded the three match points. NZF chief executive Graham Seatter does not expect they will find favour in Zurich and that Fifa will rule the game must be played - almost certainly at a neutral venue (perhaps Noumea) next year.
