KEY POINTS:
When Shane Smeltz turned up to play for the All Whites against Wales in Wrexham in May he admits he was looking no further ahead than that game.
But in a magical 90 minutes, during which he scored both goals in a gripping 2-2 draw, Smeltz, perhaps unwittingly, turned his career around.
Smeltz soon found himself on the phone with Phoenix coach Ricki Herbert, who was talking of a contract with the Wellington-based A-League club.
Of course it helped that Smeltz had turned on the magic in front of Herbert as the national team coach.
"I look back now at that game and am grateful for both the opportunity I was given to play in that game and subsequently for the Phoenix," said Smeltz, 26, after the second of two training sessions yesterday.
Now firmly established in Wellington with his Australian wife and their three-month-old daughter, Smeltz says he "has no regrets and is loving it".
Saturday's World Cup/Confederations Cup qualifier against Fiji will be the chance to be reunited with Scottish-based striker Chris Killen.
"I don't think we have played together since we played for the under-20 side in New Caledonia and then against Australia," said Smeltz.
"I have a lot of respect for him as a player and for what he has done."
While Herbert has yet to name his starting XI or the game plan for the match, Smeltz says he is relaxed about whatever role he is asked to play.
"While I prefer to play a twin striking role, I'm willing to do whatever he [Herbert] wants. Chris is a little bit bigger than me and probably a bit more of a target man but I'm sure we can work well together."
Both go into the game having scored in their last outings - Killen in Celtic's come-from-behind 2-1 win at Gretna in Scotland and Smeltz for the Phoenix in their loss by the same score to Queensland Roar.
There is certain to be a familiar look to the team Herbert will name for the first leg against Fiji, with most of the team he put out against Wales likely to start at North Harbour Stadium on Saturday.
Mark Paston will again start in goal, Tony Lochhead and Ivan Vicelich are certain to take two of the defensive positions with Jeremy Christie, given his more recent football, likely to head James Pritchett at right back. Ben Sigmund and Andy Boyens will battle to join Vicelich in central defence.
Tim Brown will captain the side from midfield and almost certainly be joined by David Mulligan and Duncan Oughton with Leo Bertos playing the attacking midfield role behind Smeltz and Killen.
Herbert understands that New Zealand are expected to win and win well.
But he's also been in the game long enough to know favouritism counts for little come kickoff.
"It's not my position to say what the outcome will be other than the fact we want a positive outcome," he said.
