KEY POINTS:
Former Napier, now Canadian-based, striker Jarrod Smith is in line to start alongside Shane Smeltz when the All Whites clash with New Caledonia in Noumea on Saturday.
The largely untried pairing are likely to spearhead the New Zealand attack in the crucial World Cup qualifier following Chris Killen's forced withdrawal from the 18-man squad through injury.
Coach Ricki Herbert said he will call another player into the squad today but given the time restraints - the team flies out on Thursday evening - he will not venture outside New Zealand in his search.
"There is not enough time to bring a player back from overseas," said Herbert who is expecting most of his overseas-based players to come into camp in Auckland today.
Other members of his expanded squad including Jeff Campbell and Daniel Ellensohn will come into the frame but James Pritchett will not as he is out with a broken cheek bone.
Killen is to have an operation to remove floating bone fragments.
Herbert might want to play Leo Bertos in midfield leaving in-form Smith to partner Smeltz.
Newcomer Allan Pearce is another possibility but it would be a big ask to pitch him into an outright striker's role in a game the All Whites will be keen to win as that would guarantee their place in next year's Confederations Cup and the tantalising prospect of playing the fifth-best Asian country for a spot in World Cup 2010 in South Africa.
Among those players expected in Auckland today are UK-based Ryan Nelsen, for his much-awaited return to the national side, Smith, Simon Elliott and Andy Boyens from the US and Steven Old from Sydney.
The return match will be played at North Harbour Stadium tomorrow week.
