KEY POINTS:
The magnitude of the heroes' welcome for favoured sons Benjamin Totori and Commins Menapi blew the Waitakere United players away on their arrival in Honiara in the Solomon Islands before this afternoon's first-leg O-League clash with Kossa FC.
And the passion shown for the pair is likely to spill over to the match, with support set to be divided between the home side and the New Zealand Football Championship winners.
Totori's parents were among the huge crowd of well-wishers who packed the airport for the team's arrival - the Solomons pair's first time home for seven months.
The convoy from the airport to the hotel brought Honiara to a standstill and when Totori and injured captain Danny Hay stopped off at Totori's old training ground after the media conference, he was mobbed.
"I am so happy to be playing in front of my fans and friends," the 22-year-old said. "Waitakere United is my club but Solomon Islands will always be my country."
The winner of the O-League final - the second leg to be played at Trusts Stadium on May 11 - will represent Oceania at December's Fifa World Club Cup in Japan.
Hay was overwhelmed.
"It was one of the few times that I have been received like that at an airport in my career," said the former Leeds United professional and All Whites captain.
"It was a real thrill, particularly for our younger guys, to see the way Benji and Commins are respected in their country."
Coach Chris Milicich was also impressed, but quickly turned his attention to the game.
"We've been on a nine-game unbeaten streak, winning eight and drawing one so were are in pretty good shape," said Milicich.
"We have come here to get a result and we've come to an environment that we have to deal with."
And the loss of Hay.
Injured in the first half of Sunday's NZFC grand final, Hay has travelled as assistant coach freeing Neil Emblen of that responsibility and allowing him to concentrate on playing.
In Hay's absence, Milicich has gone away from his now-traditional back three in favour of a more conventional four-man defence, with Emblen and Jonathan Perry flanked by Darren Bazeley and Neil Sykes.
With some players, including Roy Krishna and Paul Seaman, ineligible for this competition, Jake Butler will join Chris Bale in central midfield with Totori and Allan Pearce providing the attacking width.
Menapi and Daniel Kopricvic will play up front in what promises to be a full-on attacking formation.
Milicich would settle for a draw but knows victory will put United within sight of the ultimate goal by needing only a draw in the return.
Club chairman Rex Dawkins said he had been encouraged by the "Go Waitakere Go" signs around Honiara.
"The way in which we were welcomed was something I have never experienced." He was just as impressed with the match venue.
"It is a superb facility ... made possible through the Fifa Goal Project."
O-LEAGUE FINAL
* First leg
* Kossa FC v Waitakere United
* Lawson Tama Stadium, Honiara
* Today 3pm (NZ time)
* Referee: Rakesh Varman (Fiji)
* Waitakere United: Richard Gillespie, Darren Bazeley, Jonathan Perry, Neil Emblen, Neil Sykes, Allan Pearce, Jake Butler, Chris Bale, Benjamin Totori, Commins Menapi, Daniel Kopricvic. Substitutes: Simon Eaddy, Tim Myers, Jason Rowley, Jason Hayne, Hoani Edwards.
