KEY POINTS:
Jonathan Perry never counted on getting back on to the world stage but is determined to make the most of the chance to play in this tournament.
The rangy Auckland City defender sees the World Club Cup - starting with their game against top African side Al Ahly on Sunday in Toyota - as maybe bigger than his Confederations Cup outing with the All Whites in Mexico seven years ago.
"It is a huge test for sure," said Perry, an hour or so before boarding his flight to Narita. "It is very much a case of a small, in the context of this tournament, very small, club competing against some of the biggest names in the world.
"It will require a different mentality. Often club teams at this level are stronger than international sides, so we know there will be no easy games."
Perry has some reservations about City's preparation for their day in the sun.
"As I remember it, the All Whites had nine games in our lead-up to the Confederations Cup.
"This time we have been thrown into something you are not sure about. From what we know about them [Al Ahly], they are going to be fast and capable of breaking quickly. This is a huge challenge, after all, they are the African champions."
Perry has some experience of Egyptian players.
"We played Egypt before the Confederations Cup. I remember them as being big and strong, but we did okay against them even though they had a huge presence in midfield and defence.
"It will come down to how good we are tactically. Technically they will be very good. We are just going to have to wear them down."
Perry, 30, can call on a wealth of experience when he runs out for the tournament opener.
Plucked from obscurity in the Waikato and handed a scholarship which took him to England as a 16-year-old, he had 4 1/2 years at Barnsley and later returned to play for the Football Kingz, fitting in, along the way, 32 games for the All Whites.
His international career started with games against Chile and South Korea and ended with the loss to Australia in the 2003 Confederations qualifier.
"I didn't shut the door when my international career ended, like some players. I feel in the last couple of years I have played some of my best football."
He will need to reproduce that kind of form in the two matches City are guaranteed to play in Japan.
After playing alongside Greg Uhlmann in the heart of the City defence for the first two New Zealand Football Championship seasons, Perry has had to form a new pairing with former Canterbury United defender Ben Sigmund.
"Because of injuries which have kept him out for a few games, we haven't played a lot together," said Perry.
"But I have a huge amount of respect for him. We know we have to step up four or five notches from the level we normally play at. That is a challenge - one I'm looking forward to."
