KEY POINTS:
A second New Zealand team playing in next year's Oceania Champions League is likely to be confirmed today.
The Oceania Football Confederation executive committee will meet this morning with the final makeup of that competition high on the agenda.
Vanuatu's representatives, the Port Vila Sharks, have struggled to meet OFC requirements for hosting home matches in the six-team league scheduled to start in January, and are set to hand that place back to the OFC.
There were suggestions that Port Vila's home games might be played in the Solomon Islands, but OFC general secretary Tai Nicholas said last night that had now been ruled out.
OFC president Reynald Temarii agreed a second team from the New Zealand Football Championship was the most likely scenario.
New Zealand Soccer will confirm the team on top of the NZFC table after this weekend's round of matches as that second team, if the spot is confirmed.
With that in mind, NZS will be looking for an early resolution in the dispute between the national body and Auckland City over the points they lost for playing an ineligible player in their 1-0 win over Waitakere United.
It is understood that further submissions will be made today with a final decision likely tomorrow.
"If the executive decide that Port Vila are not able to take part, it makes sense a second New Zealand team should come in," said Temarii.
His confederation was encouraged by the bold effort of the New Zealand under-20 women's team at the recent Fifa World Championships in Russia, he said, and those results must continue if Oceania is to be taken seriously.
Of suggestions that Oceania was in danger of folding within five years, Temarii said: "Oceania will not disappear. We already have a 12-year programme drawn up with Fifa."
He was not so certain of Oceania's path into future World Cups.
While the strong feeling is that the half place held by OFC should go to Asia - with nine Asian teams (including Australia) then joined by the OFC winner - and playing for five places in the finals, it is not certain.
Much could depend on upcoming Uefa presidential elections in which incumbent Lennart Johansson will be challenged by Michel Platini, regarded as a close OFC ally and could, if elected as a member of the World Cup committee, tip things in Oceania's favour.
* NZS chief executive Graham Seatter said his association would do everything to assist Auckland City in finding the best possible coach to take the team to next month's Club World Cup in Japan.
