Soccer: Rojas running on empty

Marco Rojas (L) has been sick with a virus but will play tonight against Australia. Photo / Getty Images

Marco Rojas will rely on youth to get him through today's match with the Socceroos in Adelaide - because he's not got much else in the tank.

The tricky 19-year-old winger was confined to bed for a week because of a nasty virus which not only prevented him travelling with the All Whites to the US to take on Mexico but also struggling to keep food down for a week.

He rejoined the squad in Adelaide yesterday, vowing to play whatever he was asked but didn't believe he was in the sort of shape to play 90 minutes.

"Ninety minutes would probably be pushing it," he says, "but we will see what they decide. My fitness won't be at its best but, however long they want me to play, I'm sure being young I should be able to cope."

It's not as if coach Ricki Herbert is bursting with options. Already depleted before the Mexico game, he lost four more to injury and prior commitments after the 3-0 defeat in Denver - Simon Elliott (hamstring), Ivan Vicelich (sister's wedding), Winston Reid (groin) and Craig Henderson (hamstring).

He has 15 fit outfielders, including Rojas, and it will force Herbert to make some bold decisions.

Normally conservative by nature, he doesn't really have the personnel to do that this time around and could employ the attacking talents of Shane Smeltz, Chris Wood, Kosta Barbarouses, Chris Killen, Michael McGlinchey and Jeremy Brockie from the outset.

It's not clear if he will persevere with his 3-4-3 formation or opt for a back four but it's likely Brockie will continue in a defensive role down the left flank.

Herbert signalled they would probably "cut loose" in Adelaide and the All Whites are now served by more creative players than they've had for some time.

They must be given time to develop because they clearly can't rely on veteran Simon Elliott (37 next week) much longer and there are doubts about the roles Vicelich (34) and Ryan Nelsen (33) have in the next campaign.

The demands of the two internationals against Mexico and Australia inside three days have clearly compromised the All Whites but they were still poor against the Mexicans.

Herbert has had to be mindful of managing his squad for both games, and he opted not to start the best side in the first match. They will also turn up to Adelaide Oval today badly jetlagged.

But playing the two games is something New Zealand Football had to do. There have been huge gaps on their calendar and there was a danger, had they not agreed to play Mexico and Australia, of the All Whites dropping from the public's consciousness.

But fans also want more and they will expect New Zealand to be competitive against Australia today. They should be better placed to do that. They have rarely matched up well against skilful South and Central American opposition and will bring more passion than they did against Mexico because it is Australia.

"Regardless of where you are at or what you are doing, when you play Australia, it's a huge pride thing," said midfielder Tim Brown, who won't have forgotten he fractured his shoulder in the 2-1 defeat to Australia last May that largely invalided him out of the World Cup.

Rojas will also provide additional impetus from the bench. He's had a phenomenal six months that saw him emerge as one of the most exciting talents in the country and led to his signing by leading A-League side the Melbourne Victory.

Rojas goes into the game with more match fitness than most of his team-mates after playing a leading role in the New Zealand under-20s' qualification for the World Cup and their subsequent good showing at a tournament in South Korea where they beat African champions Nigeria. But that will be offset by his illness. He has had a couple of light runs and a kickaround with his dad as preparation.

"It wasn't a pleasant situation I went through but I'm looking forward to catching up with the team," Rojas said before jetting off to Adelaide.

"It got to the point that everything I was eating wasn't staying there. It's getting better. It's pretty much back to normal. It was pretty tough [not travelling to Denver]."

THE TEAM

Possible line-up for tonight's game against Australia:
Glen Moss, Ben Sigmund, Michael Boxall, Andy Boyens, Jeremy Brockie, Kosta Barbarouses, Michael McGlinchey, Tim Brown, Shane Smeltz, Chris Wood, Chris Killen.