Soccer: Marksmen sharpen their skills for Bahrain

Coach Ricki Herbert discusses tactics with Shane Smeltz during a New Zealand All Whites training session. Photo / Getty Images

Shane Smeltz and Rory Fallon shrugged off the chill factor to set the training pitch alight in an impressive workout at the aptly-named Endeavour Park in Wellington yesterday.

Doing what strikers enjoy most - finding the net - the duo quickly hit their range in the short, but intense, training game to show they are well-tuned for Saturday's winner-take-all World Cup qualifier against Bahrain.

Fallon, very much the new boy on the block after making his debut in last month's first leg of the Asia/Oceania playoff, impressed again with his strength, height and heading ability and later his power as he worked on his shooting drills.

Smeltz was more circumspect, but again showed the deft scoring touches which have him deservedly recognised as the top marksman in the A-League.

The session, the second of the day and with the full 18-strong squad on hand, gave a strong indication that coach Ricki Herbert will stay with the same 3-4-1-2 formation he employed in the first leg in Manama.

One change in personnel could come in midfield where Michael McGlinchey will come in if Simon Elliott fails a fitness test. Elliott trained alone yesterday and faces a race against time to prove to Herbert he will be ready to play.

The only other hint of a change could be up front with 17-year-old Chris Wood pressing for a start - possibly in place of Chris Killen who has had little game time with Celtic.

With confidence beyond his years, Wood, who plays for West Bromwich Albion in the English Championship, has no doubt he is up to the task. "I had a good performance over there [in Bahrain, when he played off the bench]," said Wood after yesterday's second session. "I hope that gives Ricki Herbert something to think about. I have been playing well for my club.

"I don't feel like I'm 17. More like 25, for what I have achieved in my short career. If you have the ability, I have no doubt you should be out there."

Wood has dreamed about scoring the goal that gets the All Whites to South Africa. He can visualise the winner clearly.

"Potentially a cross from Leo Bertos in the 87th minute for 1-0," said Wood who had the ball in the Bahrain net in the first leg only to be called back for offside. "Clearly in my mind, I was onside. I haven't seen a video of it - I don't want to. I thought I had scored, and then I saw the flag was up."

Ben Sigmund, set to join Ryan Nelsen and Ivan Vicelich in a three-man defence, said the crowd would be influential.

"The crowd will take us along for the ride. We have 8000 for the Phoenix and that picks you up, imagine what 35,000 will do," said Sigmund. "It would be great to see the whole stadium as a sea of white. If we can get one [goal] in early it would be great. We want to be on the front foot and take it to them. Let them worry about us.

"The support we know we will get will make a huge difference."

The weather will be key too. Wellington was anything but warm yesterday. More of the same today will be a rude shock for the visitors who arrive after four days in Sydney.