Fitness tests on goalkeeper Mark Paston and defender Winston Reid will go a long way to deciding the make-up of the All Whites team for tonight's return match with Tahiti in Christchurch.
Both players missed the round three clash in Papeete on Saturday night with Paston a late withdrawal with an infected foot and Reid sidelined with a tight right hamstring.
In Reid's absence coach Ricki Herbert handed Ben Sigmund and Tommy Smith starting spots. Both did well in the 2-0 win over the Toa Aito as did Glen Moss who took the goalkeeper's gloves.
With Nelsen already declared fit to play and certain to run out at AMI Stadium for his 49th international and his first in front of his home crowd, Herbert must settle on his line-up with four worthy central defenders to select from.
He seems likely to stay with his four-man defence given what fullbacks Tony Lochhead and Leo Bertos showed in the away leg.
