KEY POINTS:
The All Whites today named a much-changed soccer squad to face Fiji in Lautoka next week in a dead World Cup qualifying tie.
Coach Ricki Herbert has picked a 16-strong line-up with a host of age-group internationals and six uncapped players.
New Zealand have already won through to
the last stage of qualifying - a home-and-away tie against as yet unknown Asian opposition next November.
After the All Whites clinched top place in Oceania in September, Herbert said he would not recall overseas stars for the Fiji match on November 19.
Instead, he would rely on domestic-based talent with an eye to the future.
Herbert said today that the build-up for the two-leg playoff with an Asian nation, as well as for the Confederations Cup tournament in June, would begin in March.
"New Zealand Football have already signalled that's where the resources will be channelled," he said.
"We'll get this game ticked off and then continue planning for 2009."
As a result, the nine overseas-based professionals who had featured in the qualifying series so far, including skipper Ryan Nelsen, would not be brought back for the upcoming fixture.
"We've earned the luxury of casting the net wider and looking at players who have performed at under-20 and under-23 level to see if they can make the step to the national team," Herbert said.
"There will be opportunities to push for places in the Confederations Cup programme, and it's up to the players to stake their claim."
Seven Oly-Whites who went to Beijing - including captain Aaron Scott and non-travelling reserve Costa Barbarouses - graduate to the senior side.
Of the septet, only Jeremy Brockie and Steven Old have been capped at senior level.
Kristiansund Ballklubb striker Kris Bright is nominally the only overseas-based player included.
But the 22-year-old's return home at the end of the Norwegian season this month qualifies him for this squad.
There remains a strong Wellington Phoenix component with call-ups for Barbarouses and fellow Oly-White striker Greg Draper boosting the A-League club's contribution to seven.
However, Herbert will be without suspended vice-captain Tim Brown and has rested Mark Paston, Tony Lochhead and Shane Smeltz.
Smeltz is on an All White goal streak that matches Keith Nelson's 30-year-old record of scoring in six consecutive internationals - both notched 10 goals during their respective runs.
But Herbert didn't think Smeltz would be too upset at stopping with a share of the record.
"Records are nice, but Shane's always been focussed on just doing a job for New Zealand, and there's no question he did that for us," he said.
"I don't think anyone would begrudge him a game off."
Apart from Scott, Barbarouses, Draper and Bright, the other uncapped players are Auckland City keeper Jacob Spoonley and Hawke's Bay United midfielder Cole Peverley.
All Whites squad
Goalkeepers: Glen Moss (Wellington Phoenix), Jacob Spoonley (Auckland City).
Defenders: David Mulligan (Wellington Phoenix), Aaron Scott (Waitakere United), Ben Sigmund (Wellington Phoenix), Steven Old (unattached), James Pritchett (Auckland City).
Midfielders: Leo Bertos (Wellington Phoenix), Cole Peverley (Hawke's Bay United), Jeremy Christie (Wellington Phoenix), Allan Pearce (Waitakere United), Jeff Campbell (Waitakere United), Jeremy Brockie (Team Wellington).
Forwards: Greg Draper (Wellington Phoenix), Costa Barbarouses (Wellington Phoenix), Kris Bright (Kristiansund Ballklubb).
- NZPA
