KEY POINTS:
Ricki Herbert has not cast his net too wide in naming the 18 players who can seal New Zealand's place in the next phase of World Cup 2010 qualifying.
Of the 18 players the All Whites coach named yesterday for the away and home matches against New Caledonia on September 6 and 10, nine are from his Wellington Phoenix squad and a 10th, Allan Pearce, from New Zealand Football Championship-winning Waitakere United.
Provided there are no late withdrawals, Herbert is poised to name his first full-strength team since taking the reins.
He and New Zealand Football chief executive Michael Glading have spoken at length to Ryan Nelsen since his return from Beijing and are confident he will join the squad in Auckland on September 2.
"As far as I am concerned, Ryan is committed to the two games," said Herbert. Asked whether there had been an issue following remarks made by Nelsen about the Phoenix while he was in Beijing, Herbert said "in the end there was no issue."
Herbert added that while Nelsen had continued to lead Blackburn under new manager Paul Ince, no decision had been made about the All Whites captaincy. "That will be done when the team assembles."
Unlike previous games when players have either been unavailable or not playing, Herbert welcomes the chance to select the players he wanted, with all, apart from Pearce, playing regularly in Europe, the US, Australia or locally.
Herbert will have to make changes. Midfielder Tim Brown has a carry-over suspension (from the Vanuatu matches) and Ivan Vicelich has retired from international football. He is confident he has the depth in the squad.
A win for the All Whites in Noumea would guarantee the Oceania title and a place in the next phase _ home and away matches with the fifth-placed Asian country for a place in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
New Zealand has nine points from three games, New Caledonia eight from four. Fiji and Vanuatu have a point each.