KEY POINTS:
In normal circumstances, Zoltan Boros would have had to wait until 2011 to make his international debut for his adopted country.
By then he would be 32 and probably thinking about lazing by the pool rather than in it chasing a yellow ball.
Instead, he will debut for New Zealand on Thursday at the Southern Cross International Water Polo Cup after New Zealand water polo officials sought to have his passport application fast-tracked.
By all accounts, the Hungarian-born Boros is worth it.
In a country that purports to have one of the best two leagues in the world (the other is Italy), the 28-year-old played 10 seasons as a professional in his homeland and made his debut in the Hungarian league at 15. Games there are often broadcast live on TV and attract as many as 6000 spectators for a sport that ranks second in importance behind football.
Boros moved to New Zealand in December 2005 with his wife Gina Farmer, one the best women's basketballers this country has produced. Farmer played at two Olympic Games and four years professionally in Hungary where the two met.
Soon after Boros arrived here he was recruited by Christchurch club QEII and made coach of the men's and women's senior sides.
New Zealand go into the second Southern Cross Cup as defending champions but have no hope of defending it. Only two men's and three women's teams competed last year but, with the world championships in Melbourne this month, some of the world's best teams will be in Auckland this week.
Firstly, there's world champions Serbia, often referred to as the All Blacks of world water polo, then there's Olympic silver medallists Russia, top-six nation Italy and the US, another top side. Canada, Great Britain and New Zealand round out the men's field.
"It was in the back of my mind that I would like to play for New Zealand," said Boros, who will play in a point guard-type role. "I'm really happy to be going to the world champs because it's going to be the highlight of my sporting career.
"It doesn't make a difference that I will be doing it for New Zealand [and not Hungary]."
New Zealand actually open their world championships campaign against Hungary on March 20, but Boros isn't expecting any special treatment from his former countrymen.
"It's going to be special for me but they are so good I don't think they will be worried about us.
"It's just as rough as rugby. The water might slow the hits and elbows down, but there is a lot of grabbing of togs and caps."
New Zealand will get a gauge of how they might do in Melbourne at this week's tournament. It's tough to expect them to dethrone Serbia, Russia, Italy and the US but they will fancy their chances against Canada and Great Britain.
If they do, it's likely a Hungarian Kiwi will have played a large part in their success.
How it's done
* Water polo is played by seven players, including a goalkeeper. Each team has 30 seconds to shoot before possession is passed to the other side. A crucial part of the game is trying to have an opponent ejected for 20 seconds for a major foul, forcing what is called a six on five situation.
* World champs Serbia will travel to New Zealand with 27 personnel. There are 13 players in a squad.
* Four teams - New Zealand, Germany, Great Britain and former world champions the Netherlands - will contest the women's competition, which also starts in Auckland on Thursday.
